Kim Isabel had delicately collapsed, unable to overcome the fatigue built up in her body. And Seo Woo-jin ruthlessly abandoned her, fleeing without a backward glance.
The scene unfolded so perfectly in line with the original story that I nearly let a smile escape my lips.
'No, can't do that. I can't get ahead of myself just yet.'
No matter how much things were going according to plan, I couldn't let my guard down. The fact remained that I had to subjugate the Owl Bear looming before us alongside "my women."
And though it was all part of the setup, temporarily plunging Kim Isabel into terror didn't sit entirely well with me.
"Hey, Seo Woo-jin! Hey!!"
Han Sora shouted at the protagonist's retreating figure, already far away, but the panicked guy probably couldn't even hear her.
In the original story, while the isolated Kim Isabel and Han Sora struggled desperately to hold out, the protagonist would reflect on his actions and return to save them from the crisis... But I had no intention of letting things play out in such a convenient manner for him.
"Damn it, seriously! If that's how it's gonna be..."
"Han Sora, you and Cha Eun-ju escape first. I'll get Kim Isabel."
"What?!"
"Eun-ju, go on ahead!"
"N-no, Seon-ho! You can't go!!"
I set down Cha Eun-ju, whom I'd been holding, and changed course, sprinting toward the fallen Kim Isabel.
Cha Eun-ju's voice calling after me from behind tugged at my heart, but rescuing Kim Isabel from the Owl Bear came first.
'Grrrrrooooh!'
"...!"
-Thud!
Kim Isabel startled at the Owl Bear approaching her, hastily trying to get up only to tumble down again.
It might look like she was in dire straits at a glance, but fortunately, that wasn't the case. The monster was designed to capture her, not kill her, from the start.
...Though for Kim Isabel, being captured might lead to an even worse fate, so the need to save her hadn't changed.
"Isabel, get up quick!"
"...!"
With the Owl Bear closing in from behind and me approaching from the front, Kim Isabel looked utterly terrified.
Considering her trauma, it was unavoidable, but right now, I had to move her by force if necessary.
...Plus, this chaotic moment was the perfect opportunity to plant a Suggestion on her—one I might not get again.
"Isabel, get up quick!"
"...N-no, stay away..."
-Grab!
"Hngh...!!"
I'd barely grabbed her wrist, yet Kim Isabel trembled and let out a voice like she was about to burst into tears.
I could almost hear her terrified heartbeat from here. I'd thought we'd built up some goodwill, but apparently, the mere fact that I was a man terrified her immensely.
It might actually work in my favor. If fear clouded her judgment, resisting my Suggestion would be that much harder for her.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡
Suggestion: Succubus's Heart ※ Target: Isabel Maria Kim
"Hngh, h-huh...! H-ha, haa, haa...?"
There were several Suggestions that could temporarily alleviate her fear of men, but I chose "Succubus's Heart," which would make her instantly feel affection toward one.
No other men were around besides me, and it was perfect for twisting her current pounding fear into mistaken affection.
It wasn't a full acceptance like with Cha Eun-ju, so it consumed nearly half my mana, but the key was that it took hold.
"This won't do. Sorry, Isabel!"
-Flash.
"W-wait, just a moment..."
"Sorry, but I don't have time to humor you right now! I get that you're scared of guys, but please bear with it just for a bit!"
"...Y-yes."
I wondered what emotions Kim Isabel was feeling toward me now.
Did the fear simply vanish, replaced by affection? Or was she confused by both at once?
...Or, true to a succubus, was she feeling lust at the sight of me, a man?
"Hold on tight!"
"...Yes."
-Squeeze.
One thing was certain: her phobia of men had paused, at least temporarily.
Confirming her slender arms wrap around my neck, I swiftly pulled away from the Owl Bear.
'GROOOOARHH!!'
-Boom!!
"Kyaaah!!"
Moments later, the Owl Bear's massive arm slammed down spectacularly where I'd been.
Seeing the imprint deep enough to leave hand marks reignited the fear I'd momentarily forgotten in my excitement.
'Gotta stop showboating and take it down soon.'
With my physical abilities at average human levels, I couldn't hold out against an Owl Bear for long. Above all, I had to end the fight before Seo Woo-jin returned.
First, I needed to reorganize the front line. Referencing the original where Seo Woo-jin, Han Sora, and Kim Isabel took it down.
When the fleeing protagonist returned, making it three against one again, Seo Woo-jin held the front alone, leveraging a temporary swordsmanship boost.
Meanwhile, Kim Isabel bound the Owl Bear's body with "Sacred Chains" while it was pinned, and Han Sora prepared "Prudent Shot" from the rear to finish it.
In other words, Cha Eun-ju and I had to split Seo Woo-jin's role somehow.
-Thwack!
'GROOOOARHH!!'
"G-get away from Seon-ho, you monster!!"
Perfect timing—Cha Eun-ju had drawn the Owl Bear's attention toward us.
Her magic couldn't deal direct damage, but it could hinder its movements enough to buy time.
...Of course, one mistake and she'd be in danger, so I'd have to support her there.
"Han Sora!"
"What?!"
"You're in Archery, right? Ever taken down an Owl Bear before?!"
"As if! Something that fast is impossible to hit!"
"But if we restrain it somehow, you could kill it?!"
"...I-I could, but how the hell...!"
"You said you could do it!"
"How are you gonna manage that?! You're support, not frontline!"
With Han Sora's confirmation, next up was Kim Isabel.
"Isabel!"
"Y-yes...!!"
"Can you use Sacred Chains?! Or Light Bindings or Blinding Flash—anything!"
"I-I can use Sacred Chains! B-but it takes about a minute to chant..."
"Doesn't matter! Hit that thing with Sacred Chains and restrain it somehow! Han Sora, get ready and shoot an arrow right between its eyes the moment it's bound!"
"Are you insane?! You really think we can kill that?!"
"We have no choice! Please, just trust me this once!"
"O Almighty God of Light, Ither, grant me the sacred power to face my foes..."
"...Agh, fine! If I miss, it's not my fault, got it?!"
Thanks to "Succubus's Heart," Kim Isabel chatted freely with me—a guy—while preparing Sacred Chains. Han Sora, driven by responsibility and unable to flee while we fought, began chanting Prudent Shot.
And as they chanted, Cha Eun-ju got too close to the Owl Bear again, so I pulled her into my arms and created distance once more.
-Whoosh!
"Eek?!"
"Keep blasting it with magic, Eun-ju! We need to keep pulling its attention our way!"
"I-in this state?!"
"You're the only one who can right now! Please, Eun-ju!"
"O-okay! D-Dark Spear!"
-Pierce!
'GROOOOARHH!!'
-Whoooosh!
No real damage, but the incessant nagging attacks had the Owl Bear fuming, wildly swinging at me and Cha Eun-ju.
I'd love to stylishly leap over those huge hands, but without physical enhancement skills, that was impossible—especially lugging around a girl's weight.
-Whoooosh!!
"Kyaaah!! D-Dark Spear!!"
Adrenaline kept me going somehow, but even a normal human body has limits.
Fatigue was piling up in my limbs, beyond what adrenaline could mask. I was nearing my breaking point.
'Please, just end it somehow!'
Ideally before Seo Woo-jin showed up.
After all this, if he swooped in and stole the highlight, I'd be too bitter to sleep.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Huff, huff, huff."
For several minutes, he panted heavily, running blindly while forcing out ragged breaths.
Finally snapping out of the panic from facing the massive monster, Seo Woo-jin realized he was running alone—no one else was with him.
"Han Sora...?"
Of course, his childhood friend who'd nagged him throughout the practical exam was gone. So were the girl named Cha Eun-ju from the waiting room and that support guy.
He'd assumed they'd lag behind but flee from the Owl Bear like him. Yet somehow, he was the only one left.
...The unknown girl from Recovery had probably already been taken out.
"..."
He belatedly recalled ignoring the girl who'd fallen beside him as he bolted.
If only he'd kept his wits, he could've saved her easily. But terror at the giant monster had paralyzed him.
And Han Sora probably couldn't ignore the fallen girl. He knew her personality better than anyone, after all.
"Damn it..."
What kind of hunter aspirant was he, anyway?
Unable to protect his dearest friend by his side, failing even to save one fragile girl—how dare he call himself that?
Fleeing alone like this—what was the point?
"If only... if only I were stronger..."
He'd been rushing, desperate to grow powerful quickly.
To leverage his ability—"Grow stronger the more affection received from the opposite sex"—he'd researched becoming a popular hunter, mingled on sites where hunters and academy students gathered.
For his introverted self, there were no other options. Even with such a power, meeting people in real life terrified him.
Online, he'd built favor with many, growing enough to handle a single goblin now.
But in the end, he still failed to act when it mattered.
...Just like that day five years ago. And now.
'...It might not be too late yet.'
He'd fled pathetically, and returning offered no guarantee of beating the fearsome monster.
...Still, he couldn't forgive himself for such cowardice.
-Grip.
"..."
-Tadak!
Seo Woo-jin clutched his sword tightly and turned back along the path he'd run alone.
In his eyes burned a courage he'd never felt before, like flames igniting for the first time in his life.