Presence (4)

"Nayun!"

The urgency in Kim Hajin's voice shattered the clearing's newborn silence, drowning out the warm wind whistling through gnarled trees.

I just breathed deep, sprawled on my side, staring at the starless sky above.

Adrenaline faded slowly, taking with it my ability to ignore the pain.

I ran a hand over the still-bleeding cuts where tentacles had struck, groaned softly, and pushed myself up.

Hajin watched me, still kneeling beside Nayun's unconscious form.

By his look, he thought I'd go to her.

He was wrong. I walked right past.

My steps led me straight to Sven's remains.

"There's something here, right?"

[High probability.]

The ex-classmate's body was a grotesque mass of steaming flesh, shattered bones, and something… rotten.

Horrifying enough on its own, but I knew something lurked inside.

Buried.

[Some of your stats have permanently increased.]

I dismissed the notification automatically.

A flicker of satisfaction? Sure—growth was good—but no time to celebrate.

I stored my spear in inventory and crouched.

Reached in.

"What're you doing...?" Hajin asked, face contorted like he'd vomit.

The stench made my eyes water, but I ignored it.

The flesh was warm. Pliable.

It yielded with a wet squelch at every probe.

My fingers brushed soft tissue, loose bone, internal fluids gumming my palms.

Then… something different.

Not warm like its surroundings—cold.

Hard as glass yet gnarled like a tumor.

[You acquired a new skill: Mental Refuge.]

Another alert. Another distraction.

I tuned out everything but my purpose.

"Found something," I declared aloud.

Luxxion understood.

[Lifeform identified.]

[Residual Seed energy trace. Structurally unstable. High-density negative mana condensed into parasitic core.]

Apple-sized, it reeked like decay's source.

It vibrated between my fingers, writhing to break free.

Black with red veins pulsing beneath its surface—like deformed arteries.

A thorn... or an embryo.

Hard to tell what the fuck it was.

One thing was clear: it didn't belong to Sven. It had used him as host soil.

"So, Luxxion..." I said. "What shit is this?"

[Despite prior description, precise inference is currently impossible.]

"Of course it is."

It added:

[Analysis will require time. Avoid prolonged direct contact.]

I obeyed, tearing cloth from my sleeve, storing the thing in inventory.

Only then did I look up.

Kim Hajin still struggled with Nayun's dead weight, trying to lift her with one injured arm.

Each attempt left her slipping like clumsy cargo.

Pathetic. But funny.

[This must be how they see you.]

I approached, wiping gore.

"You'll dislocate your other shoulder like that."

Hajin scoffed, wincing.

"And you're one to talk?" he panted.

He tried hoisting Nayun again—she slid through his grip like water.

"Hell no," I said. "Just lucked out being less wrecked."

He sighed, defeated, and laid her down gently, jaw tight.

But his eyes never left me.

We stared for ten silent seconds before he spoke.

"Answer me something..."

I waved him on. "Shoot. I'm all ears."

"Would've asked anyway."

This guy and his god complex.

"Anyway," he said. "You had chances to run. Or let me die. Or both. Why help?"

I feigned bewilderment.

His question was unexpectedly… shit.

"That's your question? Seriously?"

Hajin stayed silent.

Finally, I stopped before him.

Brushed blood-crusted hair from my forehead with a stained sleeve.

"You said it earlier: we're here for the same reason. Well—almost the same reason."

"That's all?"

I shook my head.

"And if I wanted you dead, I'd have let Sven do the dirty work. Simple, right?"

Hajin fell quiet.

Tension lingered, but the air wasn't hostile.

He scratched his neck, awkward.

His pistol had vanished—probably stashed in Stigma.

He cleared his throat, avoiding my gaze.

"So you took the Aether." Not a question.

I nodded calmly.

"Took it. Figured it'd help... and honestly? It was going unused."

A short, harsh laugh escaped him.

"'Going unused.'" His eyes snapped to mine, narrowed. "You know how long I planned that?"

"I do," I admitted flatly. "So I won't lie. I'd be pissed too."

Finally, I sat cross-legged with a sigh.

He mirrored me.

His body must've been heavy.

"Who are you?"

"Liam," I said bluntly. "Liam Han. Just don't ask for autographs. I'm trying to make them more valuable.''

"Liam..." He tested the name. "Where'd 'amazing Liam' crawl from?"

I smirked, one-sided.

"Guess." Shrugged. Pointed at him. "Same place as the genius here."

Hajin frowned.

"Earth?"

I confirmed, smile intact.

"Yeah. Earth."

Technically not a lie.

But not the whole truth.

Couldn't be.

System bureaucracy was a fucking drag.

We sat wordless for minutes.

"That thing you pulled from Sven vanished," Hajin asked suddenly. "Your spear vanished too..."

I glanced away, shrugging with false nonchalance.

Hajin eyed me sideways.

"And where'd you stash that custom Desert Eagle?"

"Not something I'll answer," he said.

I snorted, near-mockingly.

"So we're even. Each with our secrets."

He narrowed his eyes but didn't argue. Maybe he knew I was right.

"Let's talk about something else," he began. "That thing... Sven. Whatever he became. Wasn't just a Djinn."

I nodded slowly, staring ahead.

"Agreed."

He arched a brow. "And?"

"And what?"

"What was it?"

"Do I look like I know? It was... something that shouldn't exist."

My reply was curt.

I wasn't sure—and even if I were, this wasn't the place.

Hajin squinted.

"You answer like a politician."

I clapped.

"It's my dream. Don't forget to vote for me."

Another pause.

The sun had vanished from the sky.

I rose with a stifled groan, slinging Nayun over my shoulder like a rice sack.

"Well then, let's move," I said. "Before another tentacle freak shows up."

We talked more on the path.

Random, trivial topics—words carefully picked like spies circling each other.

We minded Nayun, too—dribbling drool on my neck, forehead glued to my back.

Silence fell briefly.

Comfortable.

Then she stirred.

"Mmh…"

A near-silent mumble before she jerked violently on my shoulders.

"H-Huh?!"

The sudden shift nearly toppled me.

"Motherf—!" I cursed low, steadying myself.

"You awake?" Hajin asked, glancing back. "He's been carrying you forever. Looked corpse-like."

"P-put me down! Now!"

Protesting, Nayun thrashed like a toddler.

And of course kicked where it still hurt.

"Fine, madam. Your wish."

I dropped her legs at once.

Revenge was sweet... however childish.

"Hey!"

She complained, hitting the ground ass-first.

Then glared like I'd betrayed the nation.

"Still sore, okay?" I defended, shaking my shoulder. "This guy here's not a warhorse."

She didn't answer.

Pushed up to stand... then froze.

Her legs trembled.

"What's wrong with my legs?"

I smiled, all pretense.

"Oof. Annoying, huh."

Luxxion insulted me then. I ignored it.

Hajin approached, more serious.

"First mana exhaustion? Your channels are drained. Forcing it won't help."

She looked freshly diagnosed with stupidity.

Then snapped, blushing to her roots:

"I fucking know what mana exhaustion is! Shut up! You insufferable walking encyclopedia."

Hajin ignored the tantrum—a veteran nanny unfazed.

I was genuinely impressed.

"Won't walk for two days," he said. "Better enjoy first-class seating on the Liam Han Express."

We were allies in this war.

For a second, I admired Hajin.

"Or sit here getting eaten by demonic bugs," I shrugged.

She sighed, defeated.

"Ugh... Fine. Just don't drop me again... or I'll kill you."

Without comment, I hauled her back up and walked on.

"Did you two know each other?"

She asked later, voice muffled against my nape.

The feel of breath on my skin was...

Weird, to put it mildly.

"No," said Hajin.

"Sorta," I said simultaneously.

I didn't look back but imagined her expression.

"Huh?"

"Nothing. Forget it."

Hajin sped up, clearly changing subjects.

"Anyway. Still using a bow?"

"What kind of stupid question is that?"

Nayun scowled, offended.

But I knew exactly what he meant.

She'd awakened her true talent.

She just didn't grasp it yet.

"You saw what happened. Giant sword, insane mana, Djinn defeated. But none of your arrows mattered."

His words were harsh.

But not wrong.

I stayed silent—like a spectator.

"Don't act like you know everything, jerk!"

In reply, Nayun snarled at Hajin... but her fist struck an innocent victim: me.

I raised my brows.

"I'm quiet over here. If you're discussing deep shit, don't treat me like a freaking meat-Uber."

Nayun wilted, visibly embarrassed.

"...Sorry."

"Zero stars as a passenger. Done,'' I said.

We walked in silence after.

Finally, the teleport facility buildings emerged ahead.

Artificial lights cut through the forest's gloom.

Hajin stopped. Looked at us.

"From here... we go our own ways."

I nodded.

"Deal. But I'll take the lady to the finish line. Premium service."

Hajin didn't fully trust me but didn't argue.

"I'll contact you later. We still need to talk," he said.

He walked ahead, us trailing.

The facility worker grimaced seeing me carry Nayun but said nothing.

Maybe used to Cube cadet weirdness.

At the final stop, Hajin stayed silent.

"Dorm curfew. Going ahead."

He jogged toward the building—leaving me alone with her.

Later, we stopped at the female dorm's side entrance.

Building lights glinted off the glass door; campus silence screamed late.

Gently, I propped Nayun against a pillar.

She blinked awake, dazed.

"That's it?" she slurred. "Thought you'd go all the way…"

I crossed my arms, impassive.

"Did more than owed. Call someone on your watch. You're alive— that's already profit."

"You said you'd take me to the end!"

She protested, lips puckered childishly.

I didn't care.

"Said 'close.' This is close. Go—before they think I'm kidnapping you."

She mumbled "asshole" and "jerk" but tapped her wrist-watch.

I turned before more complaints came.

Moments later, in my room, I collapsed onto the bed with a heavy sigh.

Didn't change clothes—dried blood and gore still clung.

The stench was vile, but exhaustion won.

I stared at nothing...

Then rolled sideways, activating the System interface.

Notifications blinked, piled in my vision's corner.

Time to see what I'd truly gained.

One tap opened the first alert:

[You acquired a new skill.]

[Your stats permanently increased.]

[New item added to inventory.]

[You unlocked part of...

The screen froze.

...the Truth.]

My eyes narrowed.

"...Huh?"