My laughter rang out—bitter, mingled with the sound of my choked sobs—and I began to gradually lose control of my mind. The voice inside my head echoed endlessly:
"I love you to death… I love you to death…"
The dagger slipped from my hand, while a warm liquid trickled down my cheek. My vision blurred; I pressed my hands over my ears, squeezing hard as if trying to silence what was inside me, but the voice grew louder. I curled up on the ground and screamed:
"I don't love you… I love myself! Go away… go away… go away! Damn you… damn you!"
A voice echoed repeatedly inside my rotting brain, as if it would never end.
"Just leave me alone… please… let me go home… I don't want anything else…"
I muttered in a choked voice between my sobs and tears.
"Mom… Dad…" Forgive me if this is my punishment. Please forgive me.
Then… I felt a sudden warmth.
An embrace gently wrapped around my head, as if trying to calm the storm inside me. Warm liquid began to fall onto my head. It was Miro, her cheeks flushed, her tears streaming silently, holding me without saying a single word.
Minutes passed without her saying a word, while the sounds around me gradually faded away. I hadn't felt this way at all since I came into this world.
Then she placed her hands on my cheeks and said:
"I don't know you very well—I've only just met you—but you're not a bad person. I'm sure of that.
so things will always be okay. Luck is enough for good people like you."
Her gaze was sincere and innocent, while the corners of her eyes glistened with tears and her cheeks were flushed.
That's when I heard Zoe's whimpering as she repeated my name.
I looked at her and said:
"Zoe, what happened to her?"
I ran quickly toward her, placed her head on my lap, and said to her:
"Zoe, answer me… tell me what happened."
She raised her hand and placed it on my cheek, then said:
"Thank God you're okay."
Miro approached and said, "Don't move her any more; it'll only increase the pain." Something appeared floating where the monster had been. I quickly took off my jacket and gently placed it under Zoe's head, then said, "She's lost a lot of blood; we have to stop the bleeding." I told Miro to apply pressure to the wound while I ran toward the monster's body.
We had to take it with us and sell it, then use the proceeds to treat Zoe. When I got close to the carcass, I found a small vial.
[System]
Acquired: Healing Potion
+5 Energy
+15 Strength
+20 Stamina
+1 Skill
A healing potion… Don't mock me—as if I'm serious enough for the system to want to mess with my mind and my life.
Then I remembered Zoe's condition. If I didn't try it, her condition would get even worse. I had no other choice.
I raised the vial and drank from it.
In an instant, warmth spread through my body, my wounds began to heal gradually, the bleeding stopped, and I regained some of my strength. A faint green aura surrounded me.
[System]
Healing Boost Activated
Player Status: Good
5 Energy Units Acquired
2 Missions Completed
Missions Remaining: 1
Time Remaining: 7 hours
I quickly turned toward Zoe with concern and ran to her, then said, "Here… drink this, Zoe."
She lifted her head with difficulty and began to drink it slowly.
A green aura began to surround her, and the bleeding gradually slowed until it stopped completely. Her body regained its natural color, and she slowly began to regain her strength.
Zoe coughed violently, expelling pooled blood from her stomach, then began breathing rapidly before her breathing gradually calmed down. I looked at her and said, "Thank God you're okay."
At that moment, Miro rushed over and hugged Zoe tightly, saying in a trembling voice, "I was so scared… I thought I was going to lose both of you."
Then I turned toward the two monster corpses lying in front of me and said seriously, "We don't have time to stay here… This area is dangerous."
Time passed, and about an hour later, after we'd left the forest
and as 6:00 p.m. approached, we stood in front of the same iron gate.
The building was the headquarters of the Monster Traders' Organization.
At the gate stood a tall man with long, blond hair and pale skin, his face covered in numerous scars. There was a distinct scar above one eye, making it appear completely white as if it had lost its sight, while his other eye was a cold blue. On his back hung a broad black sword.
He stood by the door, watching us with a calm, sidelong glance, then his lips moved and he said:
"Welcome back."