Chapter 30 (2/2)

Yi Surl-Ah smiled brightly on the ground as she regulated her breathing. Even though he forcibly dragged her in here, she wasn't dissatisfied at all.

”Well, then. Should I make you feel even better?” (Seol)

”….Pardon me?” (Yi Surl-Ah)

In the Neutral Zone, one could lend out or transfer Survival Points to another. Seol transferred 200 Survival Points from his account to Yi Surl-Ah.

”Uh? Uh, uh?! 200 points?” (Yi Surl-Ah)

”You've successfully cleared a mission, right? You should receive compensation for that.” (Seol)

Seol jokingly said that, but her expression showed how apologetic and at a loss she was.

”Even still…. If you give me so much points, then I….” (Yi Surl-Ah)

Her words only managed to make Seol surprised and fl.u.s.tered, instead. Just how difficult her stay in the Neutral Zone had been for her to act like that, over measly 200 points?

”What is your brother doing right now?” (Seol)

”Oh, Sung-Jin? He should be waking up soon, I think.” (Yi Surl-Ah)

”In that case, go have a good breakfast with him. With 200 points, you should be able to enjoy a hearty meal once.” (Seol)

”J, just once?! If I save up, I think we can stretch it out to ten days….” (Yi Surl-Ah)

”No can do. You will spend it all in one go. All 200 points.” (Seol)

Seol resolutely cut her off.

For a short while, she didn't say anything. She simply stared at him with a dazed facial expression as if she hadn't finished processing this event quite yet.

”Once you're done eating, come up to my quarters with your brother. Oh, and by the way, do you know where I can find Miss Yun Seo-Rah?” (Seol)

”O, orabeo-nim?” (Yi Surl-Ah)

Yi Surl-Ah unsteadily got up from the ground. She still looked like she hadn't been able to tell whether she was in a dream or not.

”But, but, why?” (Yi Surl-Ah)

”Mm…. Well, because I'm grateful to you?” (Seol)

”A, about what, exactly? I, I haven't done anything….” (Yi Surl-Ah)

Seol sheepishly scratched his cheek as she stammered out.

”What do you mean, you haven't? You ran with me back then, didn't you?” (Seol)

When looking back, one could say that was indeed the case. Only by running together with her, Seol finally got to realise how weak he was. From that day on, he focused on improving himself like a madman. In a way, it was because of Yi Surl-Ah's intervention that he had begun his intense training regime to get to where he was now.

Yi Surl-Ah couldn't say anything for a little while longer. Only her lips parted and closed several times.

”Orabeo-nim.” (Yi Surl-Ah)

She somehow managed to squeeze out a word.

”Yes?” (Seol)

”Can you… turn around for a second?” (Yi Surl-Ah)

”Sure, why not. But, why?” (Seol)

”I… want to cry, but it's embarra.s.sing….” (Yi Surl-Ah)

Seol smiled gently. She was probably trying to express how grateful she was in her own way.

”Do what you want.” (Seol)

However, as soon as he turned around, he heard her crying out loudly. His heart nearly jumped out of his mouth in fright, and he quickly looked back, only to find Yi Surl-Ah squatting on the ground again while shedding thick tears of appreciation.

‘She's really crying?!' (Seol)

This time, it was Seol's turn to panic, instead.

After sending Yi Surl-Ah back to her place….

Seol headed off to the fifth floor.

He'd never stopped by this floor before. According to Yi Surl-Ah's explanation, a sizeable lounge could be found there, and Yun Seo-Rah spent most of her time in that place.

Seol initially believed that, since that s.p.a.ce was called a lounge, the facilities there shouldn't be so bad, but….

”…………” (Seol)

….As soon as he arrived there, he had to revise his thoughts immediately.

The circular lounge was indeed rather s.p.a.cious and open. But there were only a handful of chairs to be found here. He couldn't even begin to call this place a lounge at all.

When he pushed open the gla.s.s door and entered, he spotted a lone female figure lying quietly on the far corner of the room. She had a hood covering her head while her body was in a huddle.

Seol heard her cough. It sounded dry and scratchy. Seol placed his palm on the floor, and his body s.h.i.+vered slightly after sensing the coldness coming from the hard surface.

‘It's really cold in here.' (Seol)

She must be in a deep sleep; Seol walked towards her in loud-enough footsteps, but she still showed no signs of movement.

*SFX for soft, steady breathing*

While listening to her soft, nearly imperceptible breathing, Seol looked at her face and became utterly speechless.

Yun Seo-Rah's appearance too had changed a fair deal since the end of the Tutorial. Unfortunately, it was for the worse.

Her previously pale smooth cheeks were now yellowing and sunken. Her exposed wrist was so thin, he mistakenly thought he was looking at bones. He thought he was looking at a broken doll.

”….Miss Yun Seo-Rah?” (Seol)

Seol called out her name and placed his hand on her shoulder. Her body flinched a little, then.

”Miss Yun Seo-Rah.” (Seol)

And when he gently shook her….

”….Ah-ahck!” (Yun Seo-Rah)

Suddenly, she sucked in a heavy breath; as if she was having a nightmare, a strained cry escaped from her lips, and she desperately hid her face with her left hand. She huddled even closer and began shaking like a leaf.

”What the….?” (Seol)

He thought he looking an abused child trying to not get hit anymore. Seol took a step back in astonishment.

”Are you alright?” (Seol)

”Euh…. Euhah…!”

”Miss Yun Seo-Rah!!” (Seol)

”Uh, uhm?”

Abruptly, she raised her head. A pair of blurry, unintelligent eyes gazed at Seol.

”Heu-euh…”

She let off a pained whimper, and her eyes slowly closed again. Her entire body slumped, too. And when he called out to her again, she didn't respond.

‘Is she unconscious?' (Seol)

Her current state seemed too precarious to simply say she fell unconscious.

Seol quickly lifted her up. He only used his arms, yet he could barely feel her weight.

Leaving the fifth floor lounge, Seol immediately went to his quarters on the tenth. He thought that, since his room restored one's stamina rapidly, simply by being there would help her regain her consciousness.

After carefully laying Yun Seo-Rah down on the bed, Seol was overcome with a feeling of helplessness.

Although he did bring her here, he hadn't realised how bad her conditions actually were. Perhaps, that superior officer asking Kim Hahn-Nah for a favour must've realised that Yun Seo-Rah was on the brink, too.

‘Let's confirm her status first.' (Seol)

Seol activated his ‘Nine Eyes'.

[Yun Seo-Rah's Status Windows] [1. General Information]

Summoned date: March 16th, 2017

Marking Grade: Silver

s.e.x/Age: Female/20

Height/Weight: 166.2 cm/48.2 kg

Current condition: Heavily injured

Job: LV. 1 Warrior

Nationality: Republic of Korea (Area 1)

Affiliation: N/A

Alias: N/A

[2. Personality] Temperament:

– Indifferent. (She's not easily interested in anything particular.)

– Despairing. (Has fallen into despair and gave up on herself, and has not looked after her own body.)

Apt.i.tude:

– Brilliant. (Possesses a smart brain as well as good overall talents.)

– Highly observant. (Will carefully a.n.a.lyse and study items and events all around her.)

[3. Physical Level]

Strength: Extreme - Low ↓2

Endurance: Extreme - Low ↓1

Agility: Extreme - Low ↓3

Stamina: Extreme - Low ↓2

Magic: Low - High

Luck: Low - High

Remaining Ability points: 1.

[4. Abilities]

1.Innate abilities (0)

Job related abilities (0) Other abilities (0) [5. Level of Cognition]

Depressed (Deeply worried and/or frustrated; lacking in energy)/Despair/Pessimistic (Has a gloomy outlook on her life; is in mourning; is in despair)

”….What the h.e.l.l?” (Seol)

Seol's brows furrowed in a deep frown.

Yun Seo-Rah's condition, confirmed through her Status Windows, was in a terrible state.

< 30.=”” looking=”” back=”” (2)=””> Fin.

(TL: Remaining amount till the next sponsored chapter: $45.)