Grandma Kim Deok opened her eyes in the early hours of the morning.
Fortunately, Ki Yuhyun had a potion to immediately treat the wound on her abdomen. After that, she was admitted to the hospital to treat the rest of her injuries.
The doctor said that due to her age and the severity of the wound, it would have been dangerous if it had been even a little later.
"Teacher, but why hasn't Grandma woken up yet? Could there be... some other abnormality?"
Even though all the external injuries were treated, Grandma did not regain consciousness.
The doctor, with a tired expression, flipped through the chart and gave an explanation that was not very reassuring.
"Because she's elderly... she has suffered a lot of shock. We need to keep an eye on her for a while."
"Okay..."
Before moving her to the hospital, I immediately reported to the police, but they couldn't catch the attacker or the arsonist.
I recalled the man I met at the entrance of the workshop. His deep cap and hurried steps left a strong impression. He was definitely the culprit.
'I felt like I had seen him somewhere...'
Although his face was hidden by the cap, his build and jawline were somehow familiar.
If I had looked more carefully, it would have been better. I felt a bit regretful.
There was nothing more I could do now. But I didn't want to leave Grandma alone, so I decided to stay and guard the room.
Ki Yuhyun also stayed in the room.
Oh, by the way, in the confusion, I didn't even thank him. If he hadn't come in time, it would have been really dangerous.
"Thanks to you, Yuhyun, I'm alive. Thank you."
"Lee Eul."
"Yes?"
The man standing next to me came closer.
I instinctively stepped back.
Another step forward.
I stepped back again.
As I kept maintaining a two-step distance and stepping back, Ki Yuhyun asked,
"Why are you doing that?"
"Well, it's just..."
I knew it looked strange, but I couldn't bring myself to look at his face up close.
Because I still hadn't developed immunity to that dazzling face.
Especially when he ran into the burning workshop entrance, he looked almost like a savior.
Ugh, it's blinding.
"So... Anyway, what do you want to say?"
"..."
Ki Yuhyun gave up on getting closer and instead pointed at my hand.
"You should get it treated."
"..."
I looked at my palm. There was a wound from trying to escape with Grandma. It was a bit sore but not serious.
"This will be fine if I put some medicine on it later."
Ki Yuhyun slightly frowned, seemingly dissatisfied with my answer.
"Sorry."
"Yes? What for?"
No matter how I thought about it, I couldn't think of anything he needed to apologize for. However, Ki Yuhyun looked very distressed.
"I was complacent. I shouldn't have let Lee Eul go alone... I thought there was still time and let my guard down. The future can always change."
I didn't quite understand what he meant...
But he was apologizing for leaving me in danger.
But how could Ki Yuhyun have predicted that an arsonist would appear at Grandma Kim Deok's workshop today? Even I, a time traveler, didn't know that.
With a guilty expression, Ki Yuhyun took a bottle from his inventory and sprinkled its contents on my hand.
"Ah, it's cold... Oh?"
"Don't be surprised. It's a potion."
The moment the transparent liquid was sprinkled on my palm, the wound began to heal. My palm quickly returned to its original state, and I felt a surge of energy and a reduction in fatigue.
At that moment, an alert sounded.
[Your status has been fully restored by the effects of the Advanced Potion (โ โ โ โ โ).]
Just the name made it seem like an expensive potion to use just for a minor scratch on my palm.
"Thank you."
After a somewhat awkward thank you,
Silence fell again.
The police came for a moment but left after saying the case would be transferred to the <Dungeon Management Office> because the attacker was likely a hunter.
To think someone would try to kill such a good person...
I had to catch them and send them to prison. I clenched my fists in anger.
Ki Yuhyun must have felt the same way.
"Will the culprit be caught?"
"They will be caught."
His firm answer to my anxious question was reassuring.
Then I suddenly remembered the skill Ki Yuhyun used.
If it weren't for that skill, it would have been a very dangerous situation. The fire spread too quickly because the arsonist had poured gasoline.
But that skill was truly mysterious. The fine particles of light formed a dense net, and the texture of the air changed.
Was it a magic skill? No, it seemed a bit more...
"Yuhyun, about that skill you used earlier..."
Just as I was about to ask what skill it was,
A nurse called us, saying Grandma had woken up.
I forgot what I was going to say and rushed to Grandma.
"Grandma, how are you feeling?"
For a moment, Grandma only blinked, then finally spoke. Her voice was thin and trembling.
"What happened?"
"Today, when I went to the workshop, I found you lying there, so I brought you to the hospital."
"The workshop... Oh!"
Grandma suddenly sat up.
The strength was so great that it didn't seem like she was injured. Her eyes were filled with fiery determination, as if she had just recalled what had happened.
"Stay in bed. You need to rest more."
"What about the workshop?"
"It... It caught fire, but it's been extinguished... Grandma?!"
Before I could finish speaking, Grandma got out of bed and left the room.
She moved so quickly that I didn't have time to stop her.
"Wait, Grandma, let's go together!"
Ki Yuhyun and I hurriedly followed her.
* * *
As the eastern sky began to brighten,
Grandma arrived at the workshop entrance and collapsed.
"Oh, this can't be..."
The workshop building was in ruins, and many items were broken or burned. The black soot covering the area revealed the horror of the fire.
Ki Yuhyun quietly approached the grieving Grandma.
"I'm sorry. The fire is out, but the workshop couldn't be saved."
"No, it's fine. If it weren't for you, I might not have survived."
"Is there anyone you suspect as the culprit?"
"Culprit... Hmm, that person... Oh, no!"
Grandma suddenly stood up and headed towards the burned workshop, opening a blackened door and entering a small room inside.
There were no signs of fire, but it was clear that someone had broken in. Shelves had fallen, and items were scattered on the floor. Grandma picked up a broken glass bottle and sighed.
"How could this happen..."
The broken glass bottle was empty inside.
"Grandma, why are you doing this?"
"This is a bottle that contained the dark ether I stored."
"Really?"
The other glass bottles were the same. After examining the floor, none of them were intact.
"Now I have no dark ether left. It will take a long time to obtain more... I'm sorry."
Her voice was heavy.
"..."
On the day of the first snow, a dungeon that could kill Choi Eichan would appear.
Even if I tried to obtain dark ether now, it was highly unlikely I could do it in time.
If I failed, it would be like the past...
My vision went dark.
As I sighed and touched the floor, I suddenly remembered the hand mirror I found in the space.
I hadn't returned it yet.
Even though it was broken, maybe receiving this would help her regain her strength.
I searched my inventory and took out the hand mirror, offering it to Grandma.
"I found the mirror you mentioned. I'm sorry, but it's broken. Please take it."
"Broken?"
"Yes, it cracked when I touched it."
"!"
Grandma took the hand mirror with a surprised expression and carefully examined the crack.
"This mirror is a replica of the artifact known as Nitocris' Mirror. As long as its power hasn't been exhausted, it can't be broken by human strength."
"Really?"
It seemed to break so easily... I just lightly touched it, and it cracked.
Could I have some hidden power? Could I be the true hero?
While lost in these fanciful thoughts,
"Hold on, if this is broken...!"
Grandma, recalling something, flipped the broken mirror over.
Drip.
A black, irregular lump came out from the back of the mirror.
What is this?
The lump was about the size of a fingernail, with a texture that seemed both sticky and gaseous. When placed in a vial, it emitted a strange, flickering light.
As I examined it curiously, Grandma said,
"This is dark ether."
So this is the dark ether.
It was the first time I had seen it, so it didn't feel real.
"Breaking it was actually a good thing. A small amount of dark ether is used in the processing of the mirror. Although it's a small amount, I think I can make one item by reprocessing it."
"Really? But... This is the mirror you were looking for."
"It's fine. The mirror has already served its purpose. It would be more meaningful to help Lee Eul."
With that, Grandma stood up. Her face, unlike before, was full of energy.
"Wait a moment."
I suggested we return to the hospital, but she didn't listen. I had no choice but to leave her working and come out to the front of the workshop.
After about an hour,
"Here, take this."
Grandma, who had come out of the room, handed me an item.
It was a pendant made by reprocessing the broken hand mirror.
A small, teardrop-shaped stone hung from a thin chain. It seemed to emit a mysterious light from within the black stone.
Soon, the item's status window appeared.
[Black Pendant (โ โ โโโ)
A common design used as a token of friendship.
Type: Accessory
Note: Dark ether attribute applied]
Although it had no special effects, it clearly stated 'dark ether.'
"Thank you!"
Finally, I found it.
With this...
"To save your friend, right?"
"Yes."
Grandma smiled faintly.
"I hope it helps."
Her smile, as if thinking of someone not present, seemed touching.
* * *
The day after obtaining the pendant.
"Ha..."
"Lee Eul, how about hanging it like this?"
"Is it level? Hmm, it seems a bit tilted... If I do this, this side tilts. I'll try to level it again."
Choi Eichan was testing the sign on the wall.
It was so heavy that I couldn't lift it with both hands, but Choi Eichan could easily hold it with one hand. He carefully examined it and adjusted it to be level.
"Is this good? ...Hey, why do you look like that?"
"Huh? Oh, nothing. It's nothing."
Choi Eichan looked at me worriedly.
"Is something wrong?"
"No... Eichan, what do you think of the sign? Does it look good?"
"Huh? Yes! It's really cool and sophisticated."
"Really?"
"I don't know much about this... But it's really beautiful!"
His wide smile was genuine. Although I felt a bit flattered by Choi Eichan's positive reaction,