“If you were any smarter,” he retorted, echoing her earlier words, “You’d realize that I am not negotiating.” His tone was firm, leaving no room for argument. “You know it too, despite all of your empty threats, you’re the one disadvantaged if this matter goes any longer. So, either take it or the deal is off.”Amidst the temporary lull in the conflict, Serein remained vigilant, her senses attuned to the subtle shifts in the atmosphere. The air crackled with tension, the quietude belying the underlying currents of hostility and mistrust. She couldn't afford to be lulled into complacency by the semblance of peace.The leader's words reverberated in her mind, each syllable ringing with unyielding resolve. His demeanor exuded a steely determination, a stark reminder of the ruthless pragmatism that governed his actions. There was no negotiation, no room for compromise; it was a simple ultimatum, delivered with unwavering conviction.Serein's hazel eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of defi
The thunder rumbled outside, its echoes reverberating through the walls of my room. Raindrops pelted against the windowpane, creating a symphony of nature's fury. The flashes of lightning illuminated the darkness, casting eerie shadows across the room. I tossed and turned, my thoughts swirling like the tempestuous winds outside… Exhaustion after a deadline paired with a storm has never been a good match. Yet, I didn't find it too obnoxious either, knowing full well that I couldn't let my guard down in the relentless pursuit of my goals. While I partly blamed my tumultuous history, I couldn't place all the blame on the past, for these sharp instincts of mine had saved me from countless troubles before. That being said, tonight… it was different. Tonight, amidst the raging storm, a sense of unease gripped me more than the usual shell shock I casually had. It was as if an invisible force tugged at the fringes of my consciousness, beckoning me towards something unknown, something bey
With her short hair tied up, the young adventurer equipped her daggers and stepped outside, having a clear destination in mind. Before leaving, she made sure to inform the innkeeper of her departure after breakfast. As she ventured into the chilly air, she couldn't help but notice the coldness surrounding her. It was the first thing that struck her upon examining the body she now inhabited. Her body was cold. Her expression was cold. However, neither the temperature nor her demeanor were a result of the pitying gazes she received from others. Despite wearing a robe, she chose not to don the hoodie, unashamed of the distinctive streaks adorning her head. Stiriacrus. It was a rare disease that froze a person's core, leading to the frigidness she experienced. However, rather than being classified as an illness, Stiriacrus was more akin to a curse, one that would become deeply entrenched within a person until their demise. To put it simply, this curse hindered mages from controlli
After equipping herself for her first journey in this strange world, Serein realized that something was floating at the periphery of her vision. It remained almost permanently stuck at the corner of her eyes, regardless of how many times she moved her head. ‘Eye floaters? Or maybe cataracts?’ she pondered, trying to steal a glance at it. As Min Suhyun, she never had eye problems, although her vision was not the strongest. She had only ever heard about other people experiencing such issues. She wondered if, aside from Stiriacrus, this body also had other health problems when suddenly, out of the blue, a half-transparent screen appeared before her, causing her to jolt in surprise. "What the...?" she barely hold back her exclamation. Presented before her was a familiar sight—the desktop screen she recognized—but without the taskbar. Instead, three folders were lined up in the left corner, and something resembling a health bar adorned the top right corner. One of those folders was na
The Adelweirn Flower, a precious and elusive bloom, held the key to Serein's mission. In this particular time frame, she was aware that there would be someone else vying for the same prize. Determined to outpace this mysterious character, she hastened her steps, determined to reach the flower before it could be taken to the Amaranth Kingdom. Once all the necessary ingredients were gathered, the cure for Stiriacrus could be successfully created. It was a mythical illness that plagued the land, and finding the cure was of utmost importance. However, fate had a cruel twist in store. Even after consuming the precious cure and experiencing the miraculous healing, the Queen Regnant of the Amaranth Kingdom was destined to meet her demise through another cause. —Obviously, This fact, the twisted outcome orchestrated by Min Suhyun's writing, was known only to her. "I feel bad for the Queen, but surviving two months wouldn't bring such drastic change to the kingdom or anyone else." Either
The Red path soon came into view. Serein watched as five people withered in pain and slowly died along with the two horses. "Arghhhh!!! Save me! Save me—!" The armored man's voice died out as his body slowly melted from the rising acid on the ground. Serein covered her face with a cloth, which she used to cover her mouth and nose. With her scarf acting as a mask, her brows furrowed slightly as she tried to get closer. 'This strong acid...' A pitcher fly trap. Blasphemous Woodland was essentially a gigantic pitcher fly trap disguised as a rainforest. "Cherry... hurry up and go." As she approached, Serein heard the weakened voice of a young knight whose right leg seemed to have touched the acid. From a distance, she could see him leaning pitifully on a robed girl who refused his plea. "Stop saying nonsense and save your energy, idiot! I'll get us out of here!" The girl sounded desperate as her bright pink hair was no longer concealed by magic. Seeing this sight confirmed the
"We're getting close," Serein muttered to herself. She held back a tired sigh as she continued to carry the knight on her back, navigating the forest's treacherous terrain. While her stamina wasn't lacking, the challenge of bearing the weight of someone nearly twice her size during each leap from branch to branch left her feeling drained. Not to mention, she had to be careful not to slip and send them both tumbling to their doom below, where thick acid awaited, ready to devour them as nourishment for the forest. The acrid smell of the acid rose up, making them both slightly lightheaded. Serein couldn't help but wonder how they'd ended up in this perilous situation. ‘Well, either way,’ she thought, "we're almost there." As they moved deeper into the forest, they could hear the sound of rushing water. Finally, they reached the top of a massive waterfall. "What now, Guide-min?" Cherry asked with a hint of anxiety. "We're going to jump," Serein replied calmly, her voice belying th
"Once again, thank you, sir… I will certainly pay you more once we get back," Cherry said, showing her gratitude. If others heard about this, they might think that it's good to get more from this generous noble girl. Bright pink hair that still looked expensive despite being dirty from all that had happened to its owner. Creamy skin tone, soft to the touch, got tainted with mud and littered with small cuts. Yet still, it spoke of how much care had been spent maintaining such beauty before it was ruined by these harsh experiences. Hazel eyes shifted upwards and met with magenta orbs that were staring back at her almost pleadingly. 'Such beautiful clear eyes this princess has.' And that honeyed voice? That dangerous tone could have lured innocent people into agreeing with her request for free. However, Serein understood the true meaning behind those words, hence why she opened her mouth to negotiate. "Make that 500, pay for my food and a place to stay, in addition to one wish to