“…”
Lee Yuri opened her eyes and looked down at her arms and legs that were now free from the chains. Without looking at her somewhat disappointed expression, Dohyuk pushed the plastic bag that had dropped to the ground with his foot.
“Eat it. We’ll be leaving in 30 minutes. I will give your equipment back then.”
“Hmm.”
Dohyuk walked out as Yuri began eating and Heeyun was waiting for him outside the tent.
“Don’t worry. I asked someone to stand guard in my place.”
“…”
‘But they won’t have your sight,’ Dohyuk almost said that aloud, but he didn’t. He realized Heeyun was going to say something.
“I’m coming with you.”
“No.”
It wasn’t unexpected at all.
“I need someone to protect this place.”
“…To protect?”
Heeyun gritted her teeth and looked up to Dohyuk.
“That would’ve been reasonable if it was a week ago.”
“…”
“But not anymore. You know it.”
Power Inflation.
After the world was turned upside down again by Dohyuk, the speed at which the people were progressing was increasing. The stats changed by the day and rare equipment that took years to appear were being released every day. In that regard, Heeyun was already behind in terms of power.
Heeyun hesitated a bit, but decided to speak her mind.
“…I can be replaced anytime.”
“You don’t need to think that way…”
“It doesn’t matter what I think. It’s the truth.”
Her voice was shaking now.
“You know it and you still don’t want to let me fight. I know why you went into that tent. You’re taking her with you, right?”
Lee Yuri was a formidable ally, but so was Heeyun up until they arrived at Busan. Yet Dohyuk was not going to take Heeyun with him. He told her that she needed to protect the city. But…
To be honest, there were a lot of times where Dohyuk would’ve fared better with Heeyun. Her two Natures was one of the best possible combinations that her father could’ve left her in exchange for his life. If she took more risks to collect coins, she would become stronger at a much faster rate than anyone else.
However, Dohyuk didn’t want that.
“…Yeah,” he agreed. “I don’t want to take you outside. Honestly, I don’t want you fighting meaningless fights.”
“I don’t want to be that way!” Heeyun shouted in frustration. “WHY?! Are you worried that I might die? Or I will become crazy like everyone else?!”
“Both.”
“But even if it does end up that way, it’s not your fault! I… at this rate, I’ll be nothing. All I can do is hide behind the city wall and rely on your protection and…”
‘…become a nuisance.’
She didn’t say that, but knew Dohyuk didn’t just want to make her a nuisance.
A world where people did not need to fight, and a world where Dohyuk would be proud and feel safe to live in – that was what he wanted. It was very noble indeed. There were people in the city who were calling Dohyuk their savior now. Heeyun also agreed with their thoughts.
Still, she didn’t want to be just a sheep in a fence. If possible, she wanted to go outside and be a part of Dohyuk’s work.
“…If you are not taking me because I will be in your way… I won’t ask anymore. But if you are just worried…”
“What a good man.”
Heeyun and Dohyuk both turned back toward the voice. There was Lee Yuri, watching them as she walked out of the tent. She seemed to be smiling.
“You are listening to the jibberish that weak girl says… I wouldn’t even let her open her mouth if it was me.”
“Who asked you?” Heeyun spat viciously to Yuri. “Who are you to jump in and say I’m weak and crap? Huh? You…”
“Heeyun.” Dohyuk raised his hand, “Go back up.”
“…!”
“I’ll consider what you said to me carefully. But right now, I’m running out of time.”
She looked at Dohyuk.
“Go on.” Dohyuk spoke again and Heeyun sped off to the rope which she used to climb down the wall and climbed back up as Dohyuk watched her. Then he turned to Yuri.
“Follow me.”
Yuri nodded.
“I will give you your equipment.”
Vampiric Region
It was widely known for its characteristics – anyone who took a step on the land would feel their energy getting sucked out into the ground. Just being in the region was uncomfortable enough, and without high stat points in Strength and Stamina, it was hard to even stand for a few minutes.
It did not stop there. The energy sucking did not stop until the one their life was sucked out of them. Due to these events, it was impossible to scan the place to search for any valuables.
“What about the people that protect the region? How do they holding up?”
“There’s equipment that allows you to be immune or have resistance against it.”
Right before the Vampiric Region, Dohyuk was listening to Yuri’s explanation on the way to their destination.
“And there is an underground labyrinth.”