For the first time in a long while, I ate until I was full, and the warmth of a satisfied stomach lulled me to sleep earlier than usual. I was probably the first to doze off, leaving my guests to fend for themselves. What kind of host falls asleep before their visitors? I felt a pang of embarrassment.
Even so, I was the first to wake. Normally, I might have lingered in bed, taking it easy, but that wasn’t on my mind today.
A faint warmth brushed against me, and I turned my head. I wasn’t alone. Noah was nestled close, her soft breaths steady in sleep. She wasn’t clinging to me or holding me, but her face was so near that I could feel the gentle rhythm of her breathing.
What’s this? Why is she here?
I gazed at her quietly. I’d never studied her this closely before.
Her long eyelashes trembled slightly with each breath. Her hair was a tangled mess, yet it couldn’t conceal her beauty. Her skin was impeccable—smooth and spotless, tempting me to reach out and touch it.
Realizing I’d been staring too long, I edged back a little. That’s when I noticed a blanket draped over me, one I hadn’t placed there myself. It hit me then why Noah was beside me.
She’d come to share the blanket. Her kindness stirred something deep within me.
It had been ages since I’d slept so warmly. My back still ached, though.
Carefully, I lifted the blanket and tucked it around Noah before slipping out of bed. I moved silently, stepping around the hunters sprawled across the cave floor, and pushed aside the cloth at the entrance to step outside.
The Floodlands were welcoming a new morning.
As the sun rose, slivers of light pierced through the tall, dense trees. Mornings here were always like this—sunlight filtering faintly through the leaves, teasing its presence until around midday, when it finally broke through to blaze overhead.
I stretched in the crisp morning air.
The rising sun stirred old memories. Back when I was obsessed with Hunter Land, I’d stay up until dawn, squeezing every last moment out of sleep to keep playing. Only after the sky outside my window began to brighten would I finally crawl into bed.
Then, after waking, I’d grab a quick bite and dive right back into the game.
I didn’t regret it.
Even now, stranded in the world of Hunter Land, I could still recall those emotions with startling clarity.
On days with no plans, I’d sit at my computer from morning till night, my heart pounding with excitement and tension as I played.
The game’s breathtaking landscapes—vast, mystical, and so unlike the bleak city—had captivated me. Exploring those wild expanses and hunting monsters was pure joy.
I’d felt the same thrill while facing the Lugarak.
Fighting it, locked in a desperate, life-or-death struggle, there had been countless moments where I could have died.
This wasn’t a game anymore. There was no health bar to monitor. In this reality, a single misstep carried grave consequences.
But it wasn’t just fear that drove me. If anything, it was a surge of defiance and competitive spirit that propelled me forward.
Challenging nature’s order, standing against monsters bigger and stronger than me—it lit a fire in me, a burning desire to claim victory with my own hands.
It reminded me of leveling up alternate characters. When Hunter Land grew stale, I’d create new ones to recapture that beginner’s rush, experimenting with every possibility.
With no fresh content, I’d even taken to inventing my own challenges—though those usually lost steam fast.
This was similar, yet different. It was like starting the game anew with a fresh character.
But instead of sitting in a chair, I had to move my own body. There were no retries, no three lives. Every battle was a do-or-die moment.
It was harder, more exhausting.
And that was fine. It made the challenge all the more rewarding.
A smile crept onto my face. This was new content after a long dry spell—real-time content that didn’t demand I sacrifice sleep.
Today, I’d leave the Floodlands with these hunters. I’d escape this miserable cave.
Then, I’d start from scratch, step by step.
I’d live among people, savoring life as if I’d begun anew. I’d roam the world of Hunter Land—the world I adored—with my own feet, seeing it through my own eyes.
And I’d make my way to the final update, the end I’d never witnessed. Maybe then, I’d see how this world concluded.
“Alright.”
I clenched my fist, nodding to myself with resolve.
—
When Noah woke, Alice was already gone.
Still groggy, she sat up and scanned the cave, but Alice was nowhere in sight.
Her greatsword was missing too. Where had she gone so early, armed like that?
Noah rubbed her eyes hard, then leapt to her feet. She stumbled toward the exit but paused halfway.
“I’m thirsty…”
The dryness in her throat held her back. She rummaged through her bag on the hammock, fished out a canteen, took a sip of water, and then stepped outside.
Alice hadn’t gone far.
“…Awake?”
She was sitting just outside the cave, sharpening her greatsword in the morning breeze.
Her white hair swayed lightly. Her clear, peach-colored eyes met Noah’s.
“Yeah. When did you get up, Alice?”
“A while ago.”
“You should’ve woken us.”
“You were all sleeping so peacefully…”
Noah strode over and crouched beside her.
Alice didn’t seem to care about Noah’s proximity. She was wholly focused on honing her greatsword’s blade.
To Noah, Alice was like a small, adorable rabbit.
Her lips, pursed in concentration, were as red as cherries. By contrast, her skin was pale as a wax doll, and her light pink eyes, faintly shadowed, carried an air of elegance tinged with melancholy.
At first glance, she seemed alluring enough to captivate anyone, yet also distant, as if untouched by the world.
Her face stirred a mix of thoughts.
“We’re leaving today, right?”
Alice spoke first, still sharpening her blade.
It was rare for her to initiate conversation, and Noah, caught off guard, nodded a beat late.
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“…I want to come with you.”
Noah’s surprise deepened.
Had Alice overheard their hushed talk last night? Noah hadn’t even hinted at it, yet here Alice was, offering to join them.
Noah figured she’d been pretending to sleep.
She must have heard everything and spent the night mulling it over.
Noah looked at Alice with a swell of pride.
“You do?”
“Yeah.”
“You sure?”
Alice nodded.
“I’m… tired of this place.”
Her words carried weight, layered with meaning.
It felt like she was saying she was done resenting the monsters.
How hard must it have been to reach that choice? Without thinking, Noah reached out and patted Alice’s head. She hadn’t meant to, but her hand moved on its own. Startled, Alice looked up, her wide eyes meeting Noah’s.
It’d be a lie to say those surprised eyes weren’t adorable.
“Oh, s-sorry.”
Noah hadn’t expected that reaction. She pulled her hand back, smiling sheepishly.
“It’s okay.”
“Can I… touch it again?”
“…Do what you want.”
Alice’s tone was brusque, but she didn’t seem to mind. Noah chuckled and reached out again. As her fingers ran through Alice’s hair, she felt its slightly dry yet soft texture.
Perhaps soothed by the touch, Alice’s eyes grew heavy. She kept sharpening her sword, but her focus was clearly elsewhere.
“And this too.”
Since she was already at it, Noah pinched Alice’s cheek.
She’d always wanted to try it. As expected, Alice’s skin was soft and springy.
“Euh, euf…”
Alice’s face tilted with the tug on her cheek. Noah let go and stood up.
“I’ll get breakfast ready. Take your time.”
“…Okay.”
Alice’s voice was grumpier than before. It reminded Noah of a little sister’s pout, and she couldn’t help but smile.
—
Despite everything, Noah was still the party leader. She had a duty to check on everyone and ensure they all returned together.
First, she woke Chailer and started on breakfast. There were leftovers from last night, so she planned to heat them up and pair them with something else.
Next, she checked Naev’s condition, unwrapping his bandages to see if his wounds were healing. The recovery potion had worked wonders—his condition had improved significantly.
Still, just to be safe, she gave him a tonic.
Finally, she and Scudo packed up their gear, preparing to depart.
“It’s a good thing you’re the leader, Noah.”
“Hm?”
“I could never be this efficient. It’s just not me.”
Scudo said as he wiped his armor with a cloth. He was too reserved to comfortably look after others.
“Sometimes I wonder if I’m doing it right.”
“You’ve just gotten better with time. I was the same at first.”
“Hope we can team up for the next job too.”
“Trying to coast along?”
“Something like that.”
Laughter filled the cave.
Chailer, mid-chuckle, suddenly noticed Alice’s absence and looked around.
“Where’s Alice?”
“Outside, sharpening her blade.”
“Oh, right. She didn’t finish last night before falling asleep.”
“…Turns out she wasn’t asleep.”
“Huh?”
Noah gave a wry smile.
“I think she heard everything we said last night.”
“…Really?”
“She didn’t let on, but even though I didn’t bring it up, she asked to come with us.”
“Wait, so she heard everything I said?”
Naev’s face flushed with embarrassment.
“I said some pretty sappy stuff…”
“What was it? ‘We can’t let such a kind girl die in a place like this,’ right?”
“Argh!”
Naev clutched his chest, feigning pain despite his healed wounds. He was just mortified.
Chailer snickered as he rifled through his pack, pulling out neatly wrapped meat and fruit to set on a clean board.
“Well, I’m sure she’ll act like she didn’t hear.”
“Yeah, don’t sweat it. It wasn’t anything bad—just concern.”
Scudo chuckled. Still, Naev couldn’t shake the embarrassment.
“Instead of worrying, figure out the shortest route back, Naev.”
“…Guess I should.”
Either way, the mission ended today.
They’d failed the task, but they’d gained a new companion. That was a victory in itself.
—
