Disaster events.
Though it was called that in the original work, in this reality, calling it simply a disaster would be more accurate.
A disaster usually refers to an unfortunate event that occurs unexpectedly, such as an accident or a natural disaster. There are terms like "calamity," which treats it on a smaller scale, or "man-made disasters," referring to human-caused events.
Anyway, the most representative disasters that occur in this world are dungeons and monsters.
When a dungeon goes haywire, the environment and people in the area are completely swept away. Right now, observation posts can detect signs of dungeon rampages, but at some point, many rampages will occur just like the Siphna incident, where the signs weren’t detected.
If a high-tier monster starts rampaging, human lives are like flies, easily lost. The moment monsters start commanding armies, it becomes necessary to assemble a raid force. And even after that, some monsters are too tough to be defeated.
Even without the Tower’s invasion, all kinds of disasters break out like mushrooms after rain.
It’s not something new. Just about a century ago, the world was in turmoil, worried about the survival of the species, so it’s not strange for such an era to come around again. When I think about the Tower’s invasion, the future seems pretty grim.
Of course, it’s not a disaster that’s going to happen right now. Rather, for a few years, it will be safe as long as I’m stuck in the Siyoram.
In the original work, the scale of disaster events started happening from the second year. It continues into the third and fourth years.
There was no need for the player to rush out and solve them immediately.
There are plenty of powerful forces outside as well.
The most prominent is the association. When a disaster occurs, they send out investigation teams to assess the situation, and they form raid teams or strike forces to resolve the issue. For more covert and isolated events where assembling a large team is difficult, they send internal security departments or enforcement teams to root out the cause.
There are forces established in various places as well. Not many like it when outside forces intervene in their territories. Usually, they handle things on their own before even asking for the association's help.
Even if a disaster appears, or if there’s a large-scale disaster, it will likely be stopped before the world is destroyed.
Even if a large-scale dungeon rampage traps the country within the dungeon. Even if a tier-2 monster rampages uncontrollably. Even if a new cursed land emerges.
Players in the Siyoram are safe. While in the Siyoram, there will be no threats, and they can grow safely in the most optimal environment.
The problem comes after graduation. After the Siyoram, we’ll face a weakened world due to the disasters that happened during our time there. A chaotic world where it’s impossible to even know where to start, a world that seems completely out of control.
At first, I thought that during my time in the Siyoram, I would just safely gain strength and run to some remote place... but now, even that’s impossible.
So, I have to pull out the roots beforehand. Naturally, danger will accompany that process.
"Insurance."
Liability insurance, who would want someone to suffer damage? Health insurance, who would want to become weak and be bedridden in a hospital?
[If I die... could you help Seoyul?]
Life insurance, how many people actually desire their own death?
Living beings rarely wish for death. I’m the same way. I don’t want to die. If it were up to me, I’d just quit everything and live a carefree life.
But people take out insurance. Because the future is uncertain, and even if I dislike it, there are events that are unavoidable. Insurance is taken out to be somewhat prepared for those events.
What I asked of Lee Jiyeon was in that same spirit.
We don’t have a particularly deep relationship, so I felt that it was a bit awkward to ask, but since I’ve referred to her as a benefactor, she would probably accept.
If I had asked Hong Yeonhwa or the teacher, though... my arm would probably be ripped off and I’d be locked up in the mansion right away.
But Lee Jiyeon and I don’t have a particularly close relationship. However, I did refer to her as a benefactor publicly, so she might hear me out.
"Who’s going to die?"
[Confusion]
Her intense reaction caught me off guard.
"Die? You want help if you die? Don’t be ridiculous."
Suddenly, her demeanor changed dramatically.
She had been looking at me, but now her awkwardness was becoming more evident. Occasionally, she would blush and avoid eye contact, her face showing the signs of embarrassment while still maintaining the formal "benefactor" address.
Everyone had changed.
The awkwardness was instantly cleared away, and her emotions began to boil over.
Her gaze, which had been diverted, became sharp, focusing directly on me.
"Why is death a premise here, huh?"
She dropped the polite tone.
It was unmistakably... no, openly a murderous tone, and my body trembled.
[Please, don’t curse...]
"Do you think I won’t curse?"
The grinding of her teeth echoed sharply. The tension mixed with the boiling emotions made it feel too harsh to be real. My shoulders stiffened even more.
[Why, why are you angry...?] [I didn’t say death was a premise...] [It’s just... just a request in case of anything, just in case...]
I carefully responded, watching her closely.
I could understand why she was reacting this way.
Morality is a complex and subtle concept. But from what I know, Lee Jiyeon is definitely a good person.
She empathizes with others’ pain and sorrow. She’s the kind of person who offers a helping hand when her people are in trouble. She doesn’t shy away from injustice and speaks out boldly when something is wrong.
But since we don’t have a deep relationship, I thought she would accept such a request with some hesitation...
"Just in case... if anything happens..."
Lee Jiyeon muttered softly. Although her voice hadn’t gotten louder, the cold tone that came with it was frightening...
"Ha..."
She then sighed deeply as she pushed her bangs back. Observing her actions, which were filled with frustration and anger, I took a few steps back.
[Ugh]
At that moment, a hand shot out and grabbed my wrist.
I was startled and bounced back. The force pulling me was too strong, and my body was helplessly dragged toward her.
Given her immense physical strength as a Taesan successor, it was only natural.
Of course, it wasn’t like I couldn’t resist being dragged. With the growth compensation I’ve received, I’ve reached a level where I can easily free myself from this kind of restraint.
But I couldn’t escape.
Lee Jiyeon’s overwhelming presence made it impossible to break free. Her coldly spoken command made it difficult to resist.
Her hand that tugged at me pulled me firmly into her embrace.
My face was buried in her soft body. One hand pressed my head down, burying it against her chest, while the other arm wrapped tightly around my waist.
[Ugh...]
I flailed my arms in the air as she held me close, as if trying to trap me.
"Who’s going to die?"
I heard Lee Jiyeon’s murmur above my head.
"Die? Want help if you die? Don’t say things like that."
The words were the same, but the emotion behind them was different this time.
The first time was anger, but this time, it felt like there was a sense of resolve behind the words.
[Ugh]
The hand that had been pressing on my head was removed. Instead, Lee Jiyeon’s hands gently cupped my face.
She tilted my head back with her rough hands.
"You’re not going to die. I won’t let you die. It’s okay, you won’t die."
Her intense gaze, focused on my eyes, felt like it was drilling into me.
It was intense, a forceful will that seemed to pierce right through me.
"You... someone as good as you can’t die. I won’t let you die. Got it? Don’t talk about dying again."
‘Ah...’
Taesan. The great and towering mountain.
Taesan successors are generally very proud of themselves. They handle the earth, give life, and even control the dead. Their own abilities also contribute to building their high self-esteem, which is as lofty as the mountain itself.
I didn’t feel that kind of force from Lee Jiyeon, though.
When I first met her in the magical lake, she was busy blushing and avoiding eye contact.
During the battle with the two-headed dragon, she was reliable. But when we reunited at Siyoram, she seemed to be more concerned with my reactions.
Even after that, she’s always been cautious around me, with a soft impression, too strong for someone so unsure of themselves.
"Answer me. I won’t let you die, so you can’t give up."
Now, it’s different.
In her sharp, determined eyes, I could see her unwavering will. Her hands holding my cheeks tightly revealed her persistence.
She made it seem as though she was considering my feelings while simultaneously pushing forward with her own views.
With that immense self-confidence, she forced her conviction upon me.
[Yes, yes]
[Okay, I won’t die...]
Her resolve was so intense that it made me believe her. It gave me the impression that she would take responsibility and never let me down.
I was overwhelmed by it and nodded absentmindedly.
A short while later, with Lee Jiyeon holding Hayeol, now oddly calm, in her arms, she sat down on a nearby bench and began to infuse him with life energy.
She didn’t use all the life energy herself, though. Normally, she would draw life energy from the earth and filter it before infusing it into Hayeol. Typically, life energy infusion happens in places rich in life force, but that wasn’t necessary now.
This mansion’s grounds were brimming with enormous amounts of life energy.
The earth beneath their feet. The plants and flowers blooming around. All of it was saturated with life energy, beyond its natural limits.
‘There’s so much life energy here. It’s not naturally occurring, though. Did the head of the household intentionally cultivate it to be this abundant?’
Even when she drew life energy from the petals of flowers, it replenished quickly. The life energy buried in the earth was so vast that no matter how much was drawn, it didn’t seem to deplete.
Even compared to the spiritual veins back at the family home, it was overwhelming. The life energy here was abundant enough for Hayeol to thrive in.
‘...I won’t let him die.’
Lee Jiyeon didn’t pay much attention to that thought. Instead, she gazed down at Hayeol, lying peacefully in her arms, with a serene expression.
She infused more life energy into his body.
It was like cramming energy into an empty vessel.
...But it quickly leaked out. It seemed as though there were holes in the vessel; the energy poured out uncontrollably.
‘I won’t let him die.’
Hayeol had spoken of death. Though he later claimed it was just a precautionary statement, Lee Jiyeon didn’t believe him.
Of course, death is a common occurrence in this world. Especially for superhumans who live in constant combat and violence, death is always near.
For them, contemplating death is not something grave.
But when someone with leaking life energy like Hayeol speaks of death, it’s not taken lightly.
‘I won’t let him die. Even if he's in danger... I’ll save him.’
Lee Jiyeon felt a deep sense of responsibility.
She wasn’t sure why Hayeol was in this state, but it was very likely that the damage from the battle with the two-headed dragon had weakened him.
If only she had been able to provide him with enough reassurance back then...
"...It’s done."
The life energy infusion was complete.
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Though it was like trying to fill a bottomless pit, she had filled him to the best of her ability.
At Lee Jiyeon’s words, Hayeol, who had been resting with his face buried in her arms, slowly raised his head.
His face was slightly flushed. ...At the same time, it seemed oddly devoid of life energy, which made his face appear strangely hollow.
Lee Jiyeon gazed down at him for a moment, then gently patted his back.
She rubbed the area near his neck and gently brushed it downward. She repeated the action a few more times.
Hayeol’s body trembled slightly.
A little while later, he let out a soft burp through his slightly parted lips. ...Hayeol’s face was now glowing with a pale heat.
‘This scene is so bizarre.’
What was it called? This whole process almost felt like feeding a baby and coaxing it to burp.
‘What a crazy woman.’
Lee Jiyeon suddenly shook her head as if to stop her thoughts. She had been deeply affected by the shocking scenes from last night.
The way Professor Liana’s chest was blindly toyed with, and then pinned down, while she sniffed it... And how Baek Arin’s chest was groped, and she was sucking her fingers...
And when Baek Arin had met her eyes and grinned...
‘Ugh...’
[?]
Suddenly, heat rose to Lee Jiyeon’s face. She coughed awkwardly and patted Hayeol’s back.
[Player Correction System: Affection Level]
Hayeol → Lee Jiyeon
●●●●○○○○○○(49/100)
"Successor of Taesan" "Good person" "Cowering?" "Questionable"
▽Change▽
Hayeol → Lee Jiyeon
●●●●●●○○○○(49▷60/100)
"Successor of Taesan" "Good person" "Boldness" "Coercion"