Instead of a response, cold fingers touched his forehead. The wound on his forehead, which he hadn't even noticed, healed from the light that flowed from his fingertips.
"Thank goodness. It doesn't seem like you're seriously hurt."
"Uh, yeah... that's right."
"Apparently, you can go home after filing a report of the incident. Even if there are no external injuries, you must be very tired. Get plenty of rest when you get back."
What is this, a sense of unease?
I was tense, worried that he might be angry for hiding the fact that I had awakened. But Kwon Jiwoon said nothing.
"…?"
Was my once-in-a-lifetime confession completely ignored? Did he pretend not to hear?
Hmm, yeah, it must be because it was noisy. I spoke clearly again.
"Kwon Jiwoon, I've awakened, you know?"
"…."
This time, his expression showed a bit of shock.
Ah, is it because of that?
"Well, um, it's not like I intentionally tried to hide it, but somehow it ended up like this... Ah, and I definitely won't ask to join your guild, so don't worry."
Strangely, Kwon Jiwoon's expression darkened even more, as if he was worried.
"You must have felt helpless."
His following words sounded sorrowful.
Kwon Jiwoon grabbed my hand. Even the faintest of white light made all the wounds disappear. The hand he held was trembling.
"You should have called me if something happened."
"But the phone doesn't work inside the dungeon..."
I blurted out an excuse without realizing it.
"I won't ask why you came to such a suspicious place. But at least you should have told me. When I received the news that you were suddenly caught in a crack, I was... "
I involuntarily flinched at the deep concern in his voice. His reaction felt unfamiliar.
I was taken aback by this unfamiliar side of him, trying to find the right words to respond.
"What are you doing here... Oh."
Choi Sedric emerged from the escape gate. He started to speak to me but was startled when he saw Kwon Jiwoon in front of him.
"Could it be, Kwon Jiwoon the Hunter...?"
"Hunter Choi Sedric. It's been a while."
Kwon Jiwoon extended his hand for a handshake, but the atmosphere didn't seem particularly friendly.
"This is the first time since you threatened to buy the guild if I didn't accept the offer to join Sanha."
Choi Sedric, you did something like that too...?
Indeed, fitting for a notorious guild among the Big Three.
"That was, well, due to circumstances, and at the request of the guild leader..."
Choi Sedric stammered, then swallowed and changed his tone, seemingly recalling his public image.
"Huh, hmm! You'll regret not accepting my offer back then!"
The handshake ended in a tense atmosphere.
But...
It was a terrible act. The stiff tone and uneasy gaze. How could such a poor act pass as a high-ranking hunter? Are people really that blind?
"I have something to do, so I'll go back first. See you next time."
There was no chance to stop him. Whether he didn't want to talk to Choi Sedric anymore or was avoiding me, I couldn't tell. Kwon Jiwoon turned and left.
By the way, did <C&L Corporation> really try to take over Kwon Jiwoon's guild?
'That's strange...'
<Silver Guild> is a small guild centered around top-ranked healer Kwon Jiwoon.
Of course, even a top-ranked healer can't clear a dungeon alone. Also, due to the guild leader's disappearance, <Silver Guild> had a narrower scope of activities compared to its fame and recognition.
There's no reason for a large guild like <C&L> to covet it.
Moreover, according to my pre-regression memory, <C&L Corporation> accepts the healer-specialized guild <Garden of Blessing> as a subsidiary.
A guild that once had conflicts with Choi Sedric and even declared a boycott, but their merger was announced.
It must have been too much money to refuse.
So, it's not because they lack healers.
'Hmm...'
Something must have happened with Kwon Jiwoon's guild.
But I couldn't figure it out right away. I wanted to ask Choi Sedric more, but he started talking nonsense after his terrible act.
"Are you, are you...?"
"Kwon Jiwoon?"
"Yeah! What's your relationship with that healer?!"
"Uh? He's my cousin."
Choi Sedric looked genuinely surprised. He covered his face with his hand and muttered to himself.
If he's Kwon Jiwoon's family, then my image is completely ruined, or something like that. Why is he acting this way?
After mumbling to himself for a while, he lifted his head.
"But I won't give up..."
What, what?
"Be prepared!"
So, what?
* * *
The hospital room was shrouded in a cool shadow.
Choi Sedric had sent all the healers who were guarding Rona out of the room.
The healers, fearing another outburst like last time, quickly fled the room.
His sister was suffering from a nightmare again. Her tear-stained cheeks were hot.
"Rona..."
Choi Sedric hesitated to open his inventory.
He was afraid.
The only hope to cure Rona's incurable disease was the blue Serano flower. After obtaining the seed by chance, he had searched tirelessly for a way to make the flower bloom.
After much effort, he finally managed to save the flower.
But what if this fails too? The despair of losing the only hope he believed in. Choi Sedric couldn't bear it.
However, his hesitation didn't last long. He opened his inventory, took the flower from the pot, and placed it next to the bed.
Blue starlight flowed from the petals. The luminous light drifted through the shadowy room, filling the entire space.
Rona's groans slowly subsided, and her breathing became more relaxed.
Finally, Rona slowly opened her eyes.
"Rona!"
Her face was pale, and her dry hands trembled. But the girl looked directly at him. It had been years since he saw her awake like this.
"Brother..."
"Are you conscious? Yeah, it's me. I'm here."
He reached out his hand. Choi Sedric held Rona's hand. Her thin, small hand made him feel sorry.
Rona, relying on Choi Sedric's hand, tried to sit up. Her body, which had been lying for a long time, trembled with the small movement. But there was no time. Rona moved her dry lips.
"Rona, lie down first. Here, drink some water."
"Brother, be careful with that person..."
The rest of her words were mixed with her heavy breathing and couldn't be heard clearly.
It was her limit. Rona slowly fell back asleep. He called her name several times, but her heavy eyelids didn't open.
But her sleep was peaceful. There was no sign of pain like before. Her steady breathing and softly closed eyes made it seem as if she was having a good dream.
Just this alone made him feel so happy that he could cry.
Choi Sedric gently brushed Rona's hair.
I'll definitely make you better. Just have good dreams until then.
As he repeated this to himself,
The door to the hospital room burst open. It was Lee On, the secretary of the CEO.
"…? What's going on?"
Choi Sedric instinctively shielded Rona from Lee On's gaze.
Lee On had visited this room several times.
But for some reason, his faint smile felt unsettling.
"How is Rona? Has she improved?"
Lee On asked with a worried tone.
Choi Sedric's guard lowered a bit, forgetting his initial wariness.
It must have been a misunderstanding. He's a bit unsettling, but he's dedicated to the guild. What was I thinking?
"Yeah, she's much better thanks to this flower."
"CEO Lee said he has something to tell you."
"Really? I'll come later."
"It seems to be urgent."
"…Alright, I'll go."
Choi Sedric reluctantly got up from the bedside.
Rona was sleeping peacefully. He could be gone for a short while.
"Rona, I'll be right back."
He stroked his sleeping sister's head and left the room.
After the footsteps faded away,
"…"
Lee On's face no longer had a smile. In the eerie silence, his expressionless gaze, almost inhuman, was directed at the girl on the bed.
He reached out his hand toward the starlight-filled flower. Lee On tried to crush the blue Serano flower without hesitation.
Kiiing-
An intangible barrier repelled Lee On's hand. Sparks flew, followed by a plume of black smoke.
"…Tsk."
Even a brief touch of the barrier had burned his palm black. Lee On clicked his tongue and hid his blackened hand.
Well, it doesn't matter. At this point, the flower won't make a difference. It might just provide some comfort.
"You can't do anything anyway."
Leaving those words, Lee On turned and left.
The door closed. The girl remained asleep.
* * *
"Uh… CEO? What did you just say?"
"Why not? You can do it."
At the top floor of <C&L Corporation>.
The room was more like a CEO's office of a large corporation than a hunter guild.
Choi Sedric looked at the CEO, Lee Sein, sitting opposite him.
His hair was combed to one side, his suit looked expensive, and he had a relaxed smile of a successful person.
Although he had known him for a long time, perhaps because it had been a while, Lee Sein felt particularly unfamiliar. Especially considering what he just said...
"<Silver Guild> was supposed to be left alone, right?"
"Yeah, that was the plan."
Lee Sein smiled.
It was the same smile he had practiced in front of the mirror several times years ago, so as not to be looked down upon by other hunters.
"The plan has changed."
"But then...?"
"Don't worry. It won't be dangerous. You're like my little brother; I wouldn't put you in danger."
"…"
"Right, Sedric?"
His soothing tone reminded him of the past.
They weren't blood-related siblings.
But from the moment they named the guild with Choi Sedric's C and Lee Sein's L, they became as close as family. In the past, the three of them, including Rona, lived in a much smaller building. The distant past evoked a nostalgic feeling.
"Alright, sister."
Choi Sedric suppressed the sense of unease.
Yeah, Lee Sein wouldn't give me the wrong instructions. This uncomfortable feeling must just be a misunderstanding.
The goal is the same as before: to make <C&L> the best guild. For the goal, I would follow even incomprehensible instructions. Nothing has changed.