Ji-hoon wandered deep into the woods, his feet crunching over dead, dry leaves. The sound of rustling bushes snapped his attention toward the darkness.
He quickly unbuttoned his shirt and tied the sleeves around his waist. His heart skipped a beat at the thought that whatever was about to ambush him might not be a level one, two, or even three threat.
Bending low, he slowly closed the distance between himself and the bush. The air around him grew thicker.
"Status window," he whispered.
The translucent panel appeared, and Ji-hoon tapped the sword icon. His black blade materialized, and he grabbed it before sprinting toward the bush.
He bent his knees and leaped into the air, the moon casting its light behind him and stretching his shadow across the ground. With his sword raised above his head—just like he did when he fought the Ravengar—he prepared to stab down on whatever was hiding.
"GAAAAAH! NOOOO! WAIT!!!"
Ji-hoon landed hard, but his sword stopped mid-air. He blinked.
"Hey—what gives?" a tiny voice squeaked.
Ji-hoon froze. A small feminine figure lay curled on the ground, covering its head as if bracing for death. Her wings were transparent, glowing faintly with purple lines and curves. She wore a black sleeveless dress, knee-length socks, and matching black shoes—her hair the same deep shade.
His eyes widened, then narrowed suspiciously. He lowered the tip of his blade so close that it nearly touched her face.
"What is this thing supposed to b—"
"thing?" she puffed her cheeks in protest. "How rude! Hmph!"
Ji-hoon's grip loosened slightly before he tightened it again.
"You can read minds?" he asked. The fairy peeked through one eye and stayed silent. Ji-hoon sighed, bringing the blade a little closer.
"Alright, wait! I'll talk!" She sat up quickly. "First of all, she, not it. It's pretty obvious I'm a female fairy. And yes, I read minds."
"Hmm. Okay. So—who sent you to come after me?" Ji-hoon asked, clenching his fist.
"What? No one! I was lost and trying to find my way back to my master," she said, slowly straightening herself.
"Your master?" Ji-hoon raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. We went on a mission together. But during the mission, the demons and monsters became too many, so he told me to hide. When it was over, I tried to find him, but I forgot the route I took to my hiding spot."
"Couldn't you use your magic to track him?" Ji-hoon asked, stabbing his sword into the ground and sitting down.
"Oh—uh, no. My job is just to heal my master or anyone I'm assigned to," the fairy said.
"Then why did you hide so far awa—"
"Oh, right, that," she interrupted. "I can heal from any distance, as long as I'm not too far."
Ji-hoon sighed and rested his chin on his palm. "What's your name?"
"Oh! I'm Arinwyse, from the Healing Class." She leaped into the air, spread her wings, and landed lightly on his shoulder.
"I'm Ji-hoon," he replied, standing.
"By the way, are you lost? You look new here," Arinwyse said.
"No, I'm not. I've been here before."
Arinwyse stared him up and down, confused why he carried no armor and only a simple sword. Her eyes glowed yellow.
"LEVEL TWO?!"
"Yeah, and so?" Ji-hoon shrugged.
"If what I think you want to fight is really what you're planning, then you must be out of your mind," she groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose before flying off his shoulder.
"Yeah. I'm going to fight Malaka—the demon who rules this forest," Ji-hoon said plainly.
"You do know he's level five, right?" she asked.
"Who told you I was going to fight Malaka like this?" Ji-hoon pulled his sword free and began walking.
"Hey! Wait for me!" Arinwyse fluttered after him.
"By the way," she said, "I have to compliment you. I couldn't sense you approaching. First I felt something, then suddenly you were already in the air. How can someone do that at level two?"
"I just have experience, that's all," Ji-hoon replied, descending a hill.
"Huh? How?"
"I regressed. In my past life, I was way stronger than this. But I came across the Arch Demon. Just when everything seemed over… I was given a second chance."
"Why?" she asked, sitting on his shoulder again.
"I don't know. But one thing I do know…" Ji-hoon's face hardened. "I must not die again."
Arinwyse fell silent, staring at him—wondering if he might be the one capable of clearing this game.
A gust of wind blew dust into the air. The sky darkened as the sun finally disappeared, and the moon rose fully, illuminating the forest in silver light.