[Party member 'Shin Sora' has vanquished a 'Giant Horned Deer.']
[Party member 'Shin Sora' has vanquished a 'Giant Horned Deer.']
[Party member 'Shin Sora' has vanquished a 'Giant Horned Deer.']
I couldn't help but think that if Sora adored someone twice, she might personally employ her shield to eliminate whatever she deemed useless. Her cheerful smile now took on an almost unsettling quality.
Sora had a penchant for believing that a man who couldn't breach her formidable defenses wasn't a true man. It was worth noting that she herself was an esteemed S-rank hunter, specializing in defense, her primary attribute being Warrior and her secondary, Paladin.
So far, the only person who had managed to penetrate Sora's shield, both figuratively and literally, was probably Jehee. That could very well explain why she had accepted his proposal.
It struck me as rather peculiar that two individuals who had been engaged and subsequently broken it off could find themselves in the same place like this. Despite the incident being over a month old, the public's fascination with Shin Sora and Lee Jehee remained unabated.
As I cautiously observed the pair, my gaze unintentionally locked with Jehee's. He raised an eyebrow, seemingly inquiring why I was studying him so closely.
"Hmm?" he inquired.
"......What?" I responded, feigning innocence.
"You were just looking at me."
"Me? No, I wasn't."
I nonchalantly shook my head and redirected my attention to Sora, who was currently engaged with a formidable Giant Horned Deer or something of that sort. Standing before her, Chorok was stumbling over his words, his demeanor awkward and flustered. Regardless of the circumstances, it was rather entertaining to watch, particularly because it was immensely satisfying to witness his discomposure.
"Are you really that concerned about your master's former fiancée?" he asked, his disbelief evident in my tone.
"Are you out of your mind?" I retorted sharply.
In response, he emitted a brisk, eerie laugh that sent shivers down my spine. At this rate, I could almost anticipate another notification about the master's fluctuating mood.
"If it's not that, then why are you so cautious?" he inquired.
"...I don't know who's been spreading rumors about me being cautious. Why would I even care about Hunter Lee Jehee's encounters? It's none of my business."
Thanks to Sora's relentless efforts, the vicinity had been largely cleared of threats. Just as it seemed like a peaceful moment had arrived, a crimson warning materialized before us.
✦ ✦ ✦
[Warning: Due to the master's perturbed mood, your charm has decreased by -1.]
[Warning: Due to the master's perturbed mood, your charm has decreased by -1.]
[Warning: Due to the master's perturbed mood, your charm has decreased by -1.]
[Warning: As your charm skill has gone into the negative, you are now afflicted with the 'Melancholy' status.]
Damn it!
All of a sudden, as my charm skill plummeted into the negative, I felt my vitality drain away, replaced by a familiar, overwhelming sense of desolation.
Sora, who had been playfully taunting Chorok, turned her head with a perplexed expression. It must have appeared quite peculiar to her—someone who wasn't even near the monsters, suddenly succumbing to a status ailment.
Before Sora could inquire about the unfolding situation, Jehee had promptly and unceremoniously lifted me from the ground. Just as before, my upper body found itself bent in half and slung over his shoulder.
Could it be... was this negative status all part of some elaborate scheme?
As Sora drew closer, her gaze oscillating between me and Jehee, she questioned, "What's going on here?"
"What do you mean?" Jehee replied innocently.
"Why are you carrying Seonwoo like that?"
"He's too slow to keep up. We need to move quickly, and he can't match our pace. Besides, he's afflicted with a status ailment."
Sora's skepticism remained apparent. "Hmm."
"..."
"Hmm?"
"Nothing." Shin Sora finally responded.
Isn't this typically the part where they say, “What do you mean, nothing?”
Sora, who had emphatically shaken her head, causing her hair to flutter near her cheek, sported a mischievous grin. Without further words, Jehee signaled with his eyes toward Chorok and then sprinted toward a distant forest at an astonishing speed.
"Ow, it hurts! That really hurts!" I exclaimed.
"Keep your mouth shut. You might bite your tongue."
He's warning me a bit too late. I've already bitten it.
Damn him.
✦ ✦ ✦
Unlike our previous encounter, when we had halted at the forest's edge after sprinting across the field, our group pressed on deeper into the woods. The relentless swarm of bugs cascading from the canopy remained an annoyance, spewing some unknown liquid from their mouths.
"What is this! Ew, don't let that strange stuff touch my precious shield!" Sora exclaimed in dismay.
She clung to her shield protectively, quickly taking refuge behind Chorok. The irony was not lost on me, considering how ruthlessly she had wielded that same shield to dispatch the deer earlier.
In her stead, it was Chorok who now led the way, silently handling any monsters that crossed our path as we continued deeper into the forest. Then, abruptly, he came to a halt.
Sora, sensing something amiss in our surroundings, also paused.
Behind us, Jehee, who had been carrying me over his shoulder, finally set me down gently. As I landed safely on the ground, my face still bore traces of apprehension, wondering what awaited us next. My hand instinctively covered my mouth, the pain from my earlier tongue-biting mishap still fresh.
Damn that Lee Jehee.
While I inwardly cursed him, a familiar voice reached my ears. It was the reason for Chorok's sudden stop.
"It's a relief. You've awakened safely."
Hana descended gracefully from a tree, her expression filled with relief as she rushed toward us. She affectionately patted Han Chorok's shoulder. Following her, Taera, his eyes sharp and piercing, pinched Han Chorok's cheek.
"Don't make us worry, you rascal!"
"Ow…" Han Chorok grumbled, though he made no effort to fend off Taera's pinching and obediently apologized. "Sorry."
As Chorok complained about the pain, it struck me as somewhat unusual that he didn't push Taera away. Was I the only one who found his behavior out of character?
The rest of the group appeared unperturbed, taking the scene in stride. I remained a silent observer amidst their interactions.