"Hyaeyoung-ssi?"
"Yes, Jihye-ssi. Please lend an ear to what I'm about to express."
"Consider Kee MIyoung for this."
"Excuse me?"
"I reckon it could prove beneficial to streamline matters for individuals like Kee Miyoung in various aspects. Not solely for the present, but moving forward as well."
"I'm uncertain about your intention..."
"The decision rests entirely with you, Hyaeyoung-ssi. You're free to undertake whatever seems feasible. It matters little to me whether you serve as a mere carrier... Oh! Transforming into a handmaid wouldn't be such a terrible idea."
"The preceding remark was merely in jest. However, giving it genuine contemplation might hold merit... The current circumstances are far from favorable. Our provisions are scarce, and the pool of capable hunters is limited.
Hyunsung-ssi has been consistently aiding us by eliminating the nearby monsters, yet who can foresee what lies ahead. The reality encapsulates an inability to make presumptions about the time to come. We must confront the possibility that the male hunters might meet their demise out there, leaving no return. In such an event, we must deliberate how to proceed."
"It might not be a bad idea to become acquainted with a capable man. Do you not agree that it's prudent for individuals like us to secure an insurance policy? In the event things progress favorably, the range of possibilities expands considerably. Just consider the potential for receiving special treatment akin to what Jung Hayan has enjoyed..."
"I comprehend your perspective."
"Oh! There's a circulating rumor that Hayan will be included in the upcoming hunt. Wouldn't it be a favorable notion for Hyaeyoung to test the waters as well?"
"Your counsel is much appreciated, yet... is there a particular reason behind your sudden kindness toward me?"
"Well, it's merely a passing inclination. Nevertheless, if circumstances unfold favorably, I may call upon you for a reciprocal gesture. I'm not inclined toward gambling as a rule."
'Unpleasant woman.'
Lee Jihye, that detestable woman.
Internally, the flow of curses directed at Lee Jihye continued unabated, although it wielded no tangible influence.
In the end, she was the one who had blundered. In fact, every decision had been made at her discretion from the outset.
From accepting Lee Jihye's statements to serving as Kee Miyoung's experimental subject, every action had been undertaken under the assumption of success.
She had committed a foolish act right from the beginning and had resolutely resolved to rectify her error.
However, striving to showcase her utility by brandishing a spear had proven a monumental misstep.
Unbeknownst to her, the scream that had involuntarily escaped her lips had compounded her misjudgments.
Before her, the figures of Kee Miyoung and Park Deokgu pressed on, their determination unswerving.
Kee Miyoung'sincantations never ceased, while Park Deokgu fended off the charging monsters with his imposing shield. Her legs felt unsteady, likely due to fear, but the idea of collapsing didn't even cross her mind.
"I'll end up dead."
She was acutely aware that halting her escape would result in her demise.
Glancing sideways, she noticed Jung Hayan tailing close behind, engaged in hushed muttering.
"What an idiot..."
Fortune had favored her by catching Kee Miyoung's attention, securing her current position within this assembly.
Any other woman wouldn't be as fortunate.
Following such a significant blunder, if they managed to survive, it was almost a certainty that she would need to step down from the group.
As Park Hyaeyoung contemplated her role merely as an assistant to Jung Hayan, a bitter taste filled her mouth.
Initially, the composure of Jung Hayan left Park Hyaeyoung bewildered. The relentless assault of swords and spears by Kim Hyunsung, Lee Kiyoung, and Park Deokgu in the face of monstrous adversaries was awe-inspiring.
Conversely, Park Hyaeyoung struggled to quell her fear of death and the emotional toll of taking lives. She had naively underestimated the challenges, realizing that it wouldn't be an easy ordeal.
Nevertheless, Jung Hayan's response was slightly different. Like Park Hyaeyoung, it was her inaugural experience in this domain, confronting the monsters directly. Yet, Hayan's calm gaze remained devoid of trepidation. Although Hyaeyoung had questioned Hayan's sanity due to her self-talk, Hayan remained undeterred.
'Breaking down isn't an option,' Hyaeyoung resolved.
The tutorial's reality demanded resilience for survival. She relied on the strength of Kee Miyoung and Kim Hyunsung, acknowledging her own limitations. Those labeled incapable of hunting, like her, couldn't possibly attain the same prowess as the aforementioned duo. In time, they would become inconsequential, much like cold, forgotten leftovers.
Only one strategy seemed viable.
'I must establish a connection with them.'
After returning alive, forging a bond with Kee Miyoung was imperative. She needed to cling to him by any means necessary. Admittedly annoyed by Jung Hayan's proximity, Hyaeyoung believed Miyoung would eventually recognize her true value. It was apparent she exceeded the capabilities of the other woman.
Amid the unrelenting pursuit of Kee Miyoung and Park Deokgu, who had veered to the left, the realization dawned that they were no longer visible.
'What?'
A peculiar sensation washed over her, akin to being possessed. The unfolding events remained perplexing.
'When did this happen?'
Undeniably, she had been trailing them closely. Yet, she found herself facing an inexplicable obstacle, almost like encountering an invisible barrier.
The memory of their disappearance escaped her.
Simultaneously, Jung Hayan directed her gaze towards the wall blocking their path, her silence mirroring her uncertainty.
"Any idea where Kee Miyoung and Deokgu went?"
Hesitantly, Park Hyaeyoung attempted to engage the other woman but received no response.
Perhaps posing the question was a miscalculation.
Even Park Hyaeyoung had lost sight of them in an instant. If she, herself, couldn't decipher their whereabouts, the blind woman beside her would certainly be incapable of doing so.
It was probable that this woman had merely been trailing Hyaeyoung all along.
"Hawakkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk."
A distant, eerie cry of a monster echoed through the air.
Naturally, an instant shiver coursed through her frame. She was acutely aware of the necessity to depart this vicinity, yet her feet seemed as though they were affixed in place. The quandary arose from her inability to ascertain a direction to pursue. By this juncture, Kee Miyoung likely comprehended their predicament – lost. If they lingered a bit longer, those two would assuredly venture forth to locate them. Her confidence in this outcome remained steadfast.
Observing Jung Hayan, who amidst this critical scenario was uttering incoherencies, Park Hyaeyoung struggled to contain a chuckle.
"The strength to safeguard myself from those who seek to strip me of my possessions," she murmured, seemingly directed at some divine entity. Nonetheless, her conduct remained baffling.
Kee Miyoung , entangled with a woman of such eccentricity, seemed equally bemused.
"Wind blade," he intoned. A sharp, slicing sound followed, akin to the tearing of air.
"Quiet, you fool! Can you not discern the encroaching monstrosities?"
Her attempt to advance a single step ended abruptly.
'Huh?' she gasped mentally as an unforeseen loss of equilibrium threw her to the ground involuntarily.
Concomitant with this jolt, searing pain surged through her left leg. Crimson rivulets sprayed forth, staining the ground beneath. A ghastly sight met her eyes – her left leg severed and separated.
'How… What has transpired…' A shrill scream erupted before conscious thought.
"Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaa! S-someone! Anyone, I implore… H-help me. Pl-please, aid me!" Desperation quivered in her plea.
"I-it's futile, Hyae-Hyaeyoung-ssi."
"M-my leg… My leg…."
"I-I've used mana to insulate us from ambient noise. Uncertain if my words reach you, yet fear not, the encroaching fiends are no threat."
"P-please… Lend me assistance…."
"Y-you surpass my expectations in foolishness, Hyaeyoung-ssi… Your recklessness vexed man... Marring my outing."
"Cease! Blast it! The agony… It's excruciating! Can you not witness my severed leg? Hurry, summon Kee Miyoungi, or…"
Clutching her searing leg, Park Hyaeyoung's grip was unrelenting. The gushing blood clouded her thoughts. She utilized her jacket as a makeshift tourniquet, but its efficacy remained uncertain.
Her resolve wavered, and tremors wracked her frame – a natural response to her ordeal. How her leg had been amputated defied comprehension. Unwilling to grapple with the reality, she sought refuge in discerning whether this was a nightmare or tangible.
Fire-like agony persisted. Tears blurred her vision. Lifting her gaze slightly, she encountered Jung Hayan's eerie smile. 'Huh?' An enigmatic object lay within Hayan's grasp – an artifact of peculiar material. 'Wind blade,' an unexpected term danced in her mind.
Disbelief clung to Park Hyaeyoung, yet the emerald vortex encircling Jung Hayan's hands defied skepticism. 'Why? For what cause?' Fear surged instinctively, preceding cogitation.
"Ah… Ha-Hayan-ssi…."
"Yes, Hyaeyoung-ssi."
"Why this abrupt twist of fate?"
"I-I never aspired to this. Circumstances coerced my hand. Your relentless pursuit of him left me no alternative. Understand, it's not my inclination."
"Your intent eludes me."
"Feigning ignorance only exacerbates matters... Hyaeyoung-ssi, you realized your affections for him, didn't you? Acknowledged your intent to wrest him away, did you not?"
'Insanity,' Hyaeyoung marveled at her obliviousness. The woman before her was unhinged. Her grin exuded madness.
"It was… Mere prattle."
"Falsehoods."
"Truly…"
"You lie. Can you fathom the anguish you caused? Each word exchanged, each touch, every instance you leaned on him... The anguish is beyond your grasp."
"I-I understand. Uhuh… I comprehend. Assist me, please. I vow to vanish from his life."
"Regrettable. Despite contemplation, your presence nauseates me. Hyaeyoung-ssi, your torment should match mine. Unforgivable, your designs on my hero Kee Miyoung. Your survival breeds unease..."
"Gyaaaaaaaa!" A grisly symphony marked the severance of her remaining arm. Agony overwhelmed her.
She writhed, yet her plight remained unaltered. Her sole impulse: escape. Pain and terror throttled her attempts to crawl away.
"Save me. Please… Forgive me. Aid me. Please… Ahhhhhhhh."
"Resist not. It weakens you."
"Forgive me. I recognize my folly. It's my failing. Mmf! Mm!"
"Magic can render speechless too. Your cacophony's counterproductive."
Her voice was stifled, a strangling vice. Tears streamed. Resisting her agonizing torment was futile.
"Mm… Mm! MM!"
"T-then, I-I apologize."
Amidst her struggles, a voice reached her, emerging from an obscured locale.
"Hayan-ah?"
Architect of this calamity, Kee Miyoung emerged, an omnipresent force.