Chapter 38

The twilight light seeped into the shadowy alley. Within that light, Current Sky blinked momentarily. It seemed as though she was trying to compose herself, though the slight trembling in her eyes gave her away. Her emotions were unclear—perhaps anger, perhaps panic.

“…It’s not that I dislike it. I can’t possibly hate saving people.”

Her voice carried an undertone of fatigue.

From somewhere beyond the alley, a brief scream cut through the air before abruptly stopping. It sounded like someone hiding had been slain by a Goblin.

“I’m simply sticking to my life principles.”

Current Sky turned her gaze toward a bodyguard standing nearby in the alley.

“Team leader, when are the police coming?”

The bodyguard hesitated for a moment.

“By the looks of it, we may have encountered a complication.”

“Surely, it’s not to the extent of martial law?”

“It’s not that dire. Key national facilities are protected right now, and there are already areas where the situation has been quelled by police alone.”

Despite this explanation, Current Sky stared silently and piercingly at the bodyguard, who soon averted his gaze.

“I’m sorry. I’ll take another look at it.”

With a nod, Current Sky glanced in our direction. For some reason, I had a hunch about what she would say. Predictably, it would likely be about waiting for the police. Before she could speak, I took a step out of the alley.

“Where to?”

“Since we know the boss mob, we have to go conquer it.”

As I stepped out of the alley and turned my head, I saw the rippling rift and the Goblins swarming the path ahead. Killing all of them would be impossible both in terms of stamina and time.

I charged forward and slashed at the nearest Goblin, killing it and earning experience points, but this was only the beginning.

Arrows rained down from the sky as though veiling it. In an instant, I hurled myself toward the closest car. The arrows scratched its surface and clattered to the ground. Some embedded themselves with bone-chilling sounds. A few surrounding Goblins fell to the arrows, their experience points dispersing toward the rift.

In the middle of the chaos, Current Sky walked over, discussing something with the bodyguard. Several arrows flew toward her again, only to be blocked by a magical barrier.

She crouched down in front of me.

“Aimlessly rushing in without a plan, huh?”

“There’s a plan!”

“Which is?”

“To climb over the Goblins, stepping on their shoulders, and jump toward the rift.”

If the number of Goblins blocking the rift was too great to kill, it was easier to just step over them without dealing with each one. The goal here was to conquer the rift.

Current Sky’s lips parted slightly, and she muttered “wha” almost inaudibly. I could tell she was processing something.

“It can be done!”

“What about the arrows?”

“We knock them off.”

“While airborne?”

“That’s possible.”

“Impossible.”

“I flick them, and they just fall off.”

Her face contorted in disbelief. Despite my assurance, trust seemed in short supply. In response, I flicked my robe, the [C-Rank / Marfinya from Melophane Royal Atelier].

“Anyway, if I don’t stop all of them, this will block them. It blocks bullets, so it should block arrows too.”

“That’s true…”

Conviction finally seemed to take hold in Current Sky, but she suddenly halted mid-sentence, lightly yanking the robe.

“Off with it. That’s mine.”

The irony of her forcibly putting it on me and now taking it back escaped me, but I complied and pulled one arm free.

Then her eyebrows furrowed.

“What if you really intend to give it back?”

What now?

The robe was quickly placed on me again. Casting a side glance at the bodyguard, an ominous stare greeted me. His eyes silently questioned my attire, but I hadn’t chosen to wear it out of preference.

“The arrows should be fine… However, Orcs are dangerous, so you’ll have to turn back halfway.”

“Dangerous, and I’ll naturally flee.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely.”

“Really? Really of really?”

“Yeah.”

Despite my enthusiastic nod, Current Sky’s skeptical eyes remained. No matter what, it seemed she wouldn’t believe me.

Current Sky shook her head.

“In that case, I’m coming too.”

“Hold on, Miss.”

The bodyguard finally interjected, but Current Sky lifted a hand without acknowledging him.

“I don’t like to repeat myself.”

The tension from the bodyguard’s glare grew heavier. I hadn’t had many direct interactions with him, but the aftereffects already worried me.

Current Sky pulled the hood of the robe over my head.

“Make sure to fasten it.”

“I was about to.”

“You talk well.”

After adjusting the robe, I glanced beyond the cover of the car, where Goblins were alert. The arrows hadn’t come in a mass rush, likely due to the Wizard present.

Feeling confident, I began,

“I’ll-”

“Great! Let’s go!”

From behind the car, I sprinted toward the rift. Just as expected, arrows flew toward me. I prepared to deflect them, but they were halted by the magical barrier instead. Glancing behind, Current Sky followed with an exasperated look.

Killing blocking Goblins and avoiding others, I sprinted faster. As I neared the rift, the Goblins grew denser.

At some point, the hail of arrows ceased entirely, leaving only Goblins in my line of sight. Swinging a Goblin’s sword aside, I leapt onto its shoulder. My view elevated, and Goblins began staring at me. The breeze felt refreshing, but that peace was short-lived. The Goblins soon lunged with their swords. On one side, Goblin archers readied their arrows.

I landed on another Goblin’s shoulder before it could realize my intentions. Swinging my sword horizontally with great force, I felt a heavy resistance as the swords were knocked away, flying into the sky.

I charged toward the weaponless Goblin as arrows came from all directions. Dodging, chopping, and deflecting in mid-air, some arrows hit the robe. There were too many to handle effectively. Checking the rift, it was still far.

Stepping on a Goblin, swords lunged toward me. They had timed their attacks strategically, anticipating my movements. But it didn’t matter. With a few quick flicks of my sword, the attacks lost momentum, colliding with each other. In that brief pause, arrows again rained down. I leapt toward the next Goblin, and an even greater barrage came. Dodging all of them seemed impossible. But if I moved faster and more effectively…

Closing my eyes, I felt everything around me. With great caution, I swung my first strike. Suddenly, a weightless sensation enveloped me, and I soared through the air. Opening my eyes, Current Sky was there, her arms crossed, the setting sun fading behind her.

“So, flick-flick-flick, and arrows just fall, huh?”

“Ah… It worked just before.”

“Flick-flick-flick?”

“Just before.”

“Alrighty then.”

Current Sky shook her head.

“Be it flick-flick-flick or whatever, you don’t need to risk yourself like that.”

With a heavy sensation, I launched toward the rift. Current Sky flew beside me.

Peering down, I saw several Goblin arrows heading toward us, only to be blocked by the magical barrier. Watching one arrow strike the ground and hit a Goblin, an oddly deflating scenario unfolded.

Finally reaching the rift-like fissure, a system prompt appeared.

[Would you like to enter the E-Rank Rift?]

A Goblin below looked up at me and let out a squawking noise, wildly swinging its sword. Despite the distance, it didn’t reach. I gathered the creature’s sentiment even without understanding its words.

“Go inside, and if it gets dangerous, come back out. Got it?”

“Sure.”

Current Sky’s expression hardened.

“Sure?”

I realized my mistake.

“I’m entering.”

[Entering…]

In a blink, I was in a forest.

[Rift Quest—E Rank]

Complete the objective.

It was a quest I hadn’t seen since my initial class selection. The instruction to “complete the objective” seemed lacking, but no further details appeared. Typical system.

“Doyugeon.”

Current Sky was beside me.

“Sure?”

It was somewhat frightening.

“That slipped out.”

It truly had. Current Sky stared at me for a moment. I felt beads of sweat forming.

“Try not to do that next time.”

I nodded.

Exchanging glances, Current Sky briefly locked eyes with me and then mumbled, staring at her quest window.

“So it says ‘complete the objective’ but doesn’t give the actual objective?”

“Typical system.”

“You’re right, but it’s annoying.”

“Undoubtedly, we have to defeat a Spellcasting Orc!”

“Sounds plausible.”

“Are there any mobs around?”

Current Sky closed her eyes momentarily.

“They’re farther away. We’ll have to move closer.”

“In what direction?”

She pointed. As I started to move that way, she briefly mentioned something and turned back. I followed her gaze and saw the rift behind us. Placing her hand on it, a prompt appeared.

[Would you like to exit?]

Seems like we can leave anytime. Current Sky removed her hand and muttered about logging out and back in. Both options failed, and no queue appeared, indicating that logout and re-entry were impossible here.

“You’d have to escape to this point if you run.”

Having observed enough, we stepped toward the mob’s direction.

“By the way, if an Orc uses magic, is it an Orc Mage or an Orc Shaman?”

“Does it matter now?”

“It does. Without a clear name, the drive to defeat a boss diminishes.”

“Then why don’t you name it yourself?”

“That’s a good idea.”

“No.”

“Even if not a name, we should categorize them as either Mage or Shaman. A casting Orc is too cumbersome.”

“That’s true. So first, let’s establish the criteria for Shamans versus Mages and compare them. What is Shamanism exactly?”

Shake of the head.

“That’s too complex.”

“Then what do you want?”

“It’s Shaman if it lacks refinement.”

“Does it work like that?”

“Would it be Mage if it looked like it belongs to a magic tower?”

“If so, since the level 10 Orc was shirtless and barehanded, this Orc we’re about to meet will likely be ‘primitive.'”

“Alright, so it’s an Orc Shaman.”

“Are you sure this method of defining is sufficient?”

As we kept moving, we came upon an artificially made clearing. Cautiously, we hid behind a tree and observed. In the center stood the Orc Shaman, not shirtless like the level 10 Orc but still muscular. Without his staff, it would’ve been questionable if he was indeed casting magic.

The Orc Shaman raised his staff and one hand skyward, casting what was presumably magic or an incantation. Equipped Goblins with both swords and bows appeared in orderly fashion. The Goblins then proceeded toward a rift on one side of the clearing, crossing over.

The Shaman took a deep breath, resting briefly.

Current Sky nudged my ribs and whispered,

“Since we’ve observed enough, how about we leave?”

“But we haven’t seen his magic yet.”

“It’s lightning-based and dangerous.”

“How precisely is it dangerous?”

“Lightning.”

“What else?”

“Uh… It fires lightning arrows.”

“Then we can dodge them.”

Current Sky blinked in surprise.

“Really?”

I was about to respond confidently when memories of relying on Marfinya when dodging arrows surfaced, causing me to hesitate. What if I fail again? This wizard robe might be light, but it costs 10 billion. Worse, it’s more expensive than my family’s entire wealth.

Within that fleeting moment, Current Sky grabbed my hand and led me away. The clearing grew distant.

“Even if the Orc Shaman is strong, modern civilization is stronger. The police will handle it. They’ve been strengthening their armaments lately, so they’ll do fine.”

She’s right.

“Once we return, let’s rest first. There are dangerous people around and plenty to do, but that’s enough. You are underage, after all. Take care of yourself first. Though… don’t you feel tired? If you don’t, that’s all the more reason to rest.”

She’s right.

Looking at the sky, it was blue here while outside, the sun was setting.

Maybe sensing my lack of response, Current Sky turned and looked at me.

“…Are you tired?”

“A bit, but not enough to worry.”

Ever since I first saw a corpse, the reality of the situation has been slightly surreal, but I’m not worried yet.

“This is the kind of thing you should avoid at all times. Let’s rest for a bit.”

She’s right.

Though Current Sky is odd, she remains mature in several ways. That was even more apparent when we first met, though she’s recently been emphasizing her middle school status while acting recklessly—yet she’s still mature.

Wrapping her in a wave of magical power, I pressed down on her head with my palm. Despite her short stature, the magic flowed around, and she looked up at me curiously.

“Somehow, since we’re here now, shouldn’t we defeat the boss mob?”

“Huh? Why?”

Turning back toward the clearing, I wasn’t entirely sure why.

Since becoming a middle schooler, everyone—parents and teachers alike—has shown an increased interest in my future. They ask not just what my dream is but also insist I determine my university and department right away. With the advent of the “Free Semester System,” exams have been suspended for a year, making their interest even more apparent.

Truthfully, they care more about my grades than my future. The reasoning is simple: improve my grades first, and everything will fall into place. Study hard now, earn good grades, enter a good university, and I’ll secure a stable job. All dreams and aspirations will follow. Whatever my dreams or plans, they can be achieved only if I do well academically. If my grades falter, those dreams will remain unattainable.

Their words are true.

Logically speaking, whether it’s defeating Goblins, Orcs, or Slimes, this is a wasteful use of time that should be spent studying instead.

This, too, is true.

Despite Current Sky’s ongoing commentary, I decided I should still defeat the boss mob before leaving. For some reason, I stepped into the clearing.

The Orc Shaman had been about to summon more Goblins, raising his staff to the sky. Upon noticing me, he paused.

Logical, rational advice. I should follow it. But what I want isn’t logical or rational.

Even before this fantasy world manifested, I lived in a world of fantasy—wasn’t that true? Current Sky herself is fantasy incarnate. She’s beyond common sense, unpredictable, and could easily push me into cosmic horror scenarios—like confessing, for example. Her parents might be supportive, but how long would that last? Even encountering her grandfather has left me feeling like an invisible person. No matter how Current Sky understands the situation, I couldn’t accept all of it. Following common sense or reality would naturally mean I should stop.

Uncle the Fire Mage once said that with the rise of fantasy, new opportunities would emerge. His boasting, naturally, should be taken with a grain of salt. Still, why not try a detour for a while? This could lead to a path stretching up to the sky.

Another bolt of lightning shot toward me. This time, I ducked sideways, but a stray electric spark ignited a portion of the clearing into flames. This was dangerous. With one mistake, death is final, and there is no resurrection.

Yet I charged forward. This was reckless, and it was foolhardy, and yet… so what? Foolhardy, I know—but I wasn’t unaware of it, and my determination wasn’t light. What I want isn’t the kind of practical awareness that can’t afford a single Marfinya.

A Fireball from Current Sky shot toward the Shaman. The lightning bolt aimed at me was deflected by the explosion. In that instant, I closed the distance.

When I was almost in striking range, the Shaman suddenly smirked. Something felt off. Instead of retreating, he stepped forward, narrowing the sword distance to punch range.

Lightning coursed down the staff and gathered in his opposite fist. A practiced punch struck my abdomen. A deafening boom erupted, and the lightning exploded. The shockwave rippled through the air, but surprisingly, it was mild. I noticed the bewildered Shaman staring at Marfinya. Seizing the opportunity, I struggled to maintain my stance and slashed at his neck.

But my attack was shallow. He sidestepped, and we were too close. I quickly backed away, but the Shaman grabbed me in that moment. This… Instantly, the world flipped, and I was thrown to the ground. The impact with the earth rattled my spine. Thanks to Marfinya, the pain was bearable. I attempted to swing my sword, but the Shaman’s knee pressed onto my arm, immobilizing it. Lightning gathered in his raised fist. He seemed aware of Marfinya and aimed for my face instead. There’s no dodging this.

Suddenly, a surge of magical power appeared. The Shaman quickly dispersed it with a burst of lightning, but the overwhelming magical force extinguished the electricity. The residual magic forced him back, and he tumbled. The fireball exploded, scattering experience points in the air.

Current Sky rushed over with a worried expression.

“Are you okay?”

A bitter smile escaped me. Sometimes, I wish she’d scold me instead. Closing my eyes, I momentarily surrendered to a wave of helplessness.

Just for a moment. Only for a short while.

The soft touch of the bed embraced me. Mmm, comfort. On the edge between sleep and wakefulness, dreams flowed by.

[Master, taking your frustration out on me is useless. I only tried to inform you, but you were the one to stop me.]

[Not that. Why were you trying to say something? I told you not to. And stop hinting at things you shouldn’t say.]

[It’s important, which is why I tried to inform you.]

[You should have hidden it from the start.]

[Why?]

The dream blurred, faded, and flowed away. Memories surfaced haphazardly.

In my previous life, a counselor had said,

“Suppressing difficult emotions only makes them stronger.”

“I don’t suppress emotions. I’ve lived my life largely devoid of any significant feeling. There’s nothing to suppress.”

“But you said you were depressed.”

“Just to provide an example. Since I came for counseling and it’d be rude not to share anything, as I’ve mentioned before, I only came here because a former colleague and supervisor kept recommending it.”

Brief pause. The counselor carefully continued.

“This is our third session, with seven more left. If you keep hiding things, it’ll make counseling difficult. To know what to counsel you on, I need you to honestly share what’s troubling you.”

“I don’t have any specific troubles. I go to work, return home, and rest. After my subordinate’s suicide, I don’t feel the necessity to feel depressed, do I?”

“The intention wasn’t to criticize.”

“I know it wasn’t.”

Taking a sip of coffee, I continued,

“Since the suicide was unavoidable, it’s not my responsibility.”

“But you still mentioned being upset.”

Irritation crept in, and the drowsiness lifted. Why does everyone keep questioning me when I’ve already said it’s not? Sitting up from the bed, I leaned against the headboard.

I can’t fall asleep. Sleep had come, but woke me up? In any case, deep sleep is essential for stress relief. Lying down again, I found myself in a state of neither sleeping nor staying awake. Agonizing. Rising with a half-dream, half-wakeful mind, I exited the room.

I made a capsule coffee and added milk to create a cappuccino.

Cup in hand, I headed to a glass panel in a corner of the living room. Across the Han River, a blazing building caught my attention. Fire trucks were in full action. It seemed that a fire broke out when the rift appeared.

Looking at the sky, a few stars twinkled faintly. Taking a sip of the cappuccino, its warmth was comforting, yet it seemed to have me more awake than asleep.

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