I naturally thought about catching up to her, but the limping Han Sora was slowing me down.

‘Should I leave her?’

I thought about it for a moment, but Han Sora spoke as if she saw through what I was thinking through my expression.

“Don’t leave me. I-I’ll move as fast as I can. Haaa… haa…”

“...”

I wanted to carry her on my back, but I was really scared that Jung Ha-Yan might see that, too. What was more important right now was…

‘Where did she go?’

I was curious about what Jung Ha-Yan was up to. I wasn’t sure if she wanted to leave the scene or finish whatever unfinished business she had, but whatever it was, it wouldn’t be good news to me. Obviously, I was worried that maybe a meteorite would fall on the city when I recalled the comment Kasugano Yuno had made.

‘Is this really serious…’

I wouldn’t know how to react if this misunderstanding turned the city into ruins.

‘Shit… shit.’

I focused my mana on my eyes and continued chasing after Jung Ha-Yan, but it wasn’t easy because the city was still in chaos thanks to the incident. I was curious about where she was going, but there was a high chance she was going to the wasteland where the Republic members were located. She could be heading there to take care of the unfinished business.

Han Sora surely influenced her somehow, but the reason this was happening was the thought she had that I hated her. I couldn’t help but think that it would be nice if Mind’s Eye allowed me to read other people’s minds. I was frustrated because I had no idea what Jung Ha-Yan was thinking. I was already having a difficult time grasping her thoughts using common sense, but this time, I totally had no idea what she was thinking.

While we were busy running through the alleyways, I still had no idea where Jung Ha-Yan went. One thing I was certain of was that she was heading toward the outskirts of the city, and it surprised me because that was far from where the Republic members were staying.

However, Han Sora started talking, “I think I know where she’s headed.”

“Where?” I asked.

“Toward the beach. I’ll explain on the way there,” she answered.

I wasn’t going to abandon her even if she didn’t say that, but Han Sora definitely wanted to ensure I wouldn’t leave her behind.

“There’s a place there where she created a magic circle. The circle was created to store Miss Jung Ha-Yan’s mana in my body, but she customized the magic circle I created. She said it was a way to maximize magic output…” Han Sora explained.

“You still haven’t gotten rid of it yet?” I questioned.

“I-I’m sorry, but Miss Jung Ha-Yan said she may use it later. She mentioned that she may have to go back there if her plan failed, and she said we should keep an eye on the situation after the first incident…” she replied.

“Shit. How could you leave any traces behind? Is it a place others can find?” I asked.

“People won’t be able to find the location of the magic circle. A tough magic barrier was set up, so no one will be able to enter it other than Miss Jung Ha-Yan and me. And the barrier completely surrounds the location, so it won’t be a problem. It’ll be impossible to find and destroy it unless there’s a high-ranking mage…” she explained.

Unfortunately, there was another high-ranking mage in Laios. I probably wouldn’t be able to fix this issue this instant and work things out with the Republic, but if a magic circle like that truly existed, then we had to get rid of it as soon as possible. If Jin Cheong moved faster than my expectations, then he could arrive at that place.

‘Jung Ha-Yan sure did a lot of things. Shit… In such a short period of time as well…’ 

In addition to finding a place to manifest that spell, she even managed to place traps, as well as a barrier to completely surround the location.

By my standards, it would take over a month just to think about the preparations, but since it was Jung Ha-Yan, she could surely set this up quickly.

Han Sora was smart. Since she helped Jung Ha-Yan, I was sure that things worked out pretty smoothly, and they were unstoppable since no one was trying to stop them.

If Jung Ha-Yan was really headed there, then it was only right for me to think that she was going to activate the next spell and naturally, the firepower would be a lot stronger than the first one.

‘I need to hurry.’

I had to get there before Jung Ha-Yan was done casting her spell.

“Is there a shortcut?” I asked.

“I don’t know. We just have to head toward the beach,” Han Sora replied.

“We have to pick up our pace. I think I should carry you,” I suggested.

“Not that! P-Please… Miss Jung Ha-Yan may see us. Anything but that,” she pleaded.

I couldn’t help but pity her when I saw her having another seizure, but I was honestly in a hurry. Fortunately, I saw someone I was happy to see.

“Huh? Hyung-nim! You’re here, too? Did you meet with noonim? She said she was going back because she had business to handle…” Park Deok-Gu said.

‘Nice timing, Park Deok-Gu!’

He was helping the people clean up the debris, and he had to have gotten absorbed in the volunteer work because his face was dirty. He looked happy to see Han Sora and me. He thought we came to join the clean-up, but after seeing our desperate faces, he realized that wasn’t the case.

“Did something happen?” he asked.

“I’m glad you’re here. Carry Miss Han Sora and follow me. You can tell Deok-Gu about the location you mentioned earlier, Miss Sora,” I ordered her.

“Hey, w-what’s going on?” he asked.

“Just follow me, and I’ll explain later,” I told him.

“Where did noonim go?” he asked.

“Don’t say anything and just run,” I commanded.

“I-I’ll do whatever you ask me, but—” he stuttered.

“It’s urgent, so we have to hurry,” I said.

“Alright.”

The trustworthy support appeared at the right time, and as if to respond to my expectations, he picked up Han Sora and started running. I immediately followed him. The more we followed Jung Ha-Yan’s tracks, the more it felt like we were going to a desolate place.

I saw the ocean with white sandy beaches. We were supposed to visit this place no matter what, but since we got plunged into this kind of situation, I felt kind of bad. Unfortunately, it was out of the question to be emotional right now. This was a life-or-death situation, so even the ocean under the sunset didn’t look beautiful in my eyes.

“Where in the world are we going?” Park Deok-Gu asked.

“Miss Sora,” I called out.

“Ah, we’re almost there. We need to head a little further in…” Han Sora answered.

“I’ll take the lead from here, so just tell me which way to go, Miss Sora. I think it’ll be better if you follow a few steps behind me, Deok-Gu,” I suggested.

“Got it. Are we entering a dungeon during a situation like this?” he questioned.

That wasn’t it, but it felt that way. We were on the outskirts of the beach where there weren’t any people and entering a dungeon even wild monsters had abandoned made me nervous. I was sure the inside was a maze because Jung Ha-Yan had reused an abandoned dungeon.

When Han Sora cast a spell, the magic barrier turned faint. Right when Park Deok-Gu and I entered, it felt like she entered the secret code. Surprisingly, once we were inside, the magic barrier instantly manifested once again.

It really felt like we entered a dungeon and if Jung Ha-Yan were the boss of this dungeon, then it would be impossible to capture it with this party.

When we went further in, we saw many barriers and Han Sora entered the secret code each time. After a long time, we found ourselves in a passage that connected to a path, and I thought it would be better for me to enter before anyone else. Han Sora said she wanted to come with me, but it seemed like she didn’t want to face Jung Ha-Yan. When I quietly gestured with my hand, they both nodded, and I walked in while suppressing my nervousness.

I could see light from a magic circle pouring into the cave. It looked like a place where boss monsters of a dungeon would stay, but the sight could be considered beautiful to some people. Obviously, Jung Ha-Yan was at the center of the magic circle, and I saw her looking at me with messed up hair and bloodshot eyes.

“Ha-Yan,” I called out.

“Hiccup.”

The way she looked revealed that she was under heavy emotional stress.

“I-It’ll be over soon,” Jung Ha-Yan stuttered.

‘What’s going to be over…’

“I-I’ll succeed this time! S-So please, forgive me. Forgive me. I won’t say anything. Hiccup,” she pleaded.

‘Forgive what?’

“I-It’s his fault. I’m not a strange woman,” she continued.

“I never said you were a strange woman. The scene you saw with Miss Han Sora and me is a misunderstanding. Come over here. I’m okay, so come here,” I told her.

“I know it’s a misunderstanding, but the way you l-l-look at me has changed. I’m really not that kind of woman… You said we would go on a lot of dates, but all of it has been canceled. Hiccup. It’s all because of those people. You said we would go to the beach together, but it was all canceled…” she complained.

“That’s not true. It’s not like that…”

“Even now you think I-I’m a bad woman. Hiccup. That’s why you wouldn’t meet with me!” she yelled.

‘It’s nothing like that. Shit…’

I had no idea where I should start clearing up this ridiculous misunderstanding. I had never imagined that a comment I made without thinking would cause this much problem.

‘Why did this even happen in the first place?’

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t understand Jung Ha-Yan’s thoughts.

“D-Deok-Gu oppa said this a long time ago. Once you start doubting someone, you’ll keep doubting them… I was like that, too,” Jung Ha-Yan started.

‘Park Deok-Gu, you pig. Stop talking nonsense.’

“Y-You’ll keep doubting me until that evil idiot disappears from this world!” she continued.

“I’m not doubting you, Ha-Yan. Really,” I said.

“You say that, but you’re doubting me e-even now. You think I’m easy! I can tell just by looking at your eyes. Hiccup…” she yelled.

“That’s not true. I would never—”

“I’m right. You’re going to keep doubting me,” she interrupted.

“I said that’s not true. Shit…” I cursed.

“I have to prove my innocence!” she added.

‘There’s no need to prove anything… Stop trying to prove your innocence.’

“Right now!” she screamed.

My eyes trembled as a large amount of mana beyond my imagination started to form.

‘Please not the sea of fire ending…’

I repeatedly heard Kasugano Yuno’s voice like an echo.

“Jung Ha-Yan!” I yelled.

“I must prove my innocence!” Jung Ha-Yan repeated.

‘She’s crazy!’

A rumbling noise could be heard as dust started falling all over the place. The light of the magic circle continued shining on Jung Ha-Yan, and mana started gathering toward her.

“Ha-Yan, you don’t need to do that. You know how much I—”

“They have to disappear. Those idiots must disappear!” she shouted.

I kept on telling her that I loved her, but she had to be out of her mind right now because the enormous amount of mana was still there. If the magic manifested, people would definitely become suspicious of her. The possibility of becoming allies with Laios would be ruined, and we would be labeled as political enemies, which would cause the eventual collapse of the Sacred Democratic Country.

‘I neglected her too much.’

I didn’t take care of her properly, and unbeknownst to me, Jung Ha-Yan was being emotionally cornered.

The magic was getting stronger, and the rumbling noise got even louder to the point that it felt like my ears were about to explode. Obviously, I thought about how we didn’t have much time until the magic manifested and the moment Jung Ha-Yan uttered the spell, I was sure that a part of Laios would turn into ruins.

‘We’re doomed. Shit. We’re done for…’

“Ahhhhhhhhh!”

When Jung Ha-Yan’s eyes and mouth started emitting a dark red light, I had no choice but to yell a spell.

“L-L-Let’s get married!”

The dungeon instantly went silent.