"Of course, I'm against it. Compare the forest and here—it's obvious which is safer, right? I'm not risking my life on some uncertain guess, even if it's yours, oppa. Leaving the city and facing dangers like yesterday again? No way."
I had a faint hope—but of course, it turned out like this. Lee Yoojung cast her vote against leaving.Now, one vote for and one against.I felt a little bitter, but I decided to quietly wait and see.
Next up was Kim Hanbyul. If she voted in favor, we still had hope. Naturally, everyone's attention focused on her.
Hanbyul stared at me for a moment before opening her mouth with her usual calm voice.
"I'm not particularly eager to leave either. However, based on my own judgment, I don't think you, oppa, have any malicious intentions. So far, your decisions have always been sound. Even if there's not enough evidence to fully prove it, I think there's enough basis to trust your reasoning.I'll abstain. I won't choose yes or no."
Hanbyul chose to abstain.It was probably the safest option.
Yoojung looked convinced that we would end up staying. Her face was practically glowing with confidence.
I prepared myself for unexpected results. Worst case, even if a boss monster appeared, I'd just take it down.The real issue would be doing it quietly.
Now only Ahn Hyun and Ahn Sol remained. Ahn Hyun glanced at his sister, gently ruffling her hair before speaking.
"Sol."
"Yeah?"
"What do you want to do?"
At Hyun's question, Sol hesitated, fidgeting with her fingers. It almost looked like she was counting the votes. Her gaze met mine for a brief moment—then she quickly turned away, blushing furiously.
Meanwhile, Yoojung kept treating her like a little kid.
"Of course Sol's against it, right? It's safe and cozy here! Out there, monsters will come charging like—rawrrr!"
As Yoojung exaggerated, Sol puffed out her cheeks and shook her head, clearly annoyed. Glancing nervously at me again, Sol finally spoke up in a small voice.
"I... I want to agree with Soo-Hyun oppa."
Oh?
"Right! Of course you—wait, what?! Agree?!"
Yoojung, who was nodding happily, froze at Sol's words and stormed toward her. Sol quickly hid behind Ahn Hyun.
Everyone—including Ahn Hyun and Hanbyul—stared at her in wide-eyed shock. Feeling pressured, Sol mumbled hesitantly.
"Y-Yeah. I agree."
"Why?! Why on earth?!"
"Hing..."
While Yoojung fumed, Ahn Hyun gently soothed Sol and asked kindly.
"Sol, can you tell everyone why you chose that?"
"Mhm... it's just... a feeling. I don't know why..."
The word "feeling" made Ahn Hyun's face change sharply.It was subtle, but I definitely caught it.
Why the sudden seriousness?
"Hey! You can't decide something this big on just a feeling—"
"Quiet."
Ahn Hyun's sudden firm voice shut Yoojung up. His face was dead serious as he looked at Sol.
Seemingly unaware, Sol continued timidly.
"It used to be just a vague feeling, but... last night, I had a dream."
"Please, everyone stay quiet. Sol, continue."
"In the dream... we were all sleeping in this building, and a huge monster showed up. It was like something out of Alien. It came straight to our building... and... it looked like everyone was going to die. Actually, I think I saw everyone die. But then... the dream rewound. Like a clock winding back."
"And then?"
"Then Soo-Hyun oppa appeared. When the monster came again, it was different. Oppa said he would hold off the monster so the rest of us could escape. I was running away in his arms. But... just before I turned back to look, the dream ended."
"Anything else you remember?"
"At the very end... I think I heard some terrible scream? Like a roar? But I'm not sure."
Everyone was dead silent, hanging on her every word.
And for the first time since I came back to the past—I looked at her with pure sincerity.
Even if I didn't fully understand it, I knew this much:this wasn't just nonsense.
Sol's magical stats were 75 points, with a 100-point luck stat. My 96 points in magic power were enough to make me a top-level magician in Hall Plane. And yet, even with my Third Eye ability, I could barely glimpse a second of the past.
But Sol—through dreams—had somehow seen a glimpse of the future. Maybe not precise. Maybe random. But still.
Her tremendous luck stat must have played a role.
It also answered one of my early questions:Why hadn't I encountered them in my first run?Because they had gathered in this city—and died within two days, probably killed by the boss monster. Sol was likely the only survivor.
"Haa..."Ahn Hyun let out a deep sigh.
Sol, finished telling her story, nervously glanced around.
After tapping the floor thoughtfully, Ahn Hyun finally spoke.
"I agree with Soo-Hyun hyung."
"What? You too? But you said you didn't want to leave!"
Yoojung snapped immediately.
Ahn Hyun looked apologetically at her but spoke firmly.
"I'm not just siding with my sister.It might sound silly, but—"
He gently patted Sol's head.
"I've lived with Sol for over 19 years.And every time... whenever Sol got uneasy about something, something bad really did happen."
Of course.With 100 points in Luck, near-precognitive instincts were natural.
Yoojung looked disgusted.
"That stupid gut feeling again? Ugh, so sick of it."
"But it's not a lie. Whenever Sol feels it, bad things happen.It's rare for her to see things in dreams... but this is serious. So: 3 votes in favor, 1 against, 1 abstained.Majority rules. Let's go."
"You're really leaving now?"
"Yeah. We have to. If her dream is right, every second counts. Pack only what's necessary."
Hyun turned to me.
"Hyung, please keep watch outside."
"Got it."
Satisfied with Hyun's new leadership, I stood up and re-equipped my crossbow.
It was subtle, but Ahn Hyun had definitely changed.
He'd even scouted the building alone earlier that morning.
Of course, expecting a complete transformation overnight was unrealistic.But at least outwardly, he was showing a new determination.
A very positive change.
If the group had been like Park Donggeol and his gang, they would've thrown a fit about leaving. But not here.
I breathed in the cool morning air, feeling refreshed.
Escaping the Dead Man-infested forest? Check. Surviving the psychological trap of the city? Check. Now, if we avoided boss monsters or hostile survivors, reaching the central gate would actually be relatively easy.
"Um..."
Just as I was mentally preparing for what lay ahead, a voice called out to me.
Turning, I saw Hanbyul standing there. A small backpack on her back—she seemed ready to go.
"Finished packing?"
"Yes. The others are still getting ready."
"I see. Then I'll keep watch a little longer."
"...Could we talk for a bit?"
Her sudden request surprised me. But I nodded.
"Of course."
Hanbyul cautiously approached, glancing at me as if weighing her words.
After a brief pause, she finally spoke in a careful voice.
"Did... did you hear anything from Yoojung unnie or Hyun oppa?"
"About the fight between you and Yoojung?"
"That... and anything else."
I shook my head.
"I see... Actually..."
Her explanation wasn't anything dramatic.
Just that she had argued with Yoojung when Yoojung insisted on leaving.
When Hanbyul mentioned how the living had a duty to survive—it stung slightly.But I knew it wasn't her real heart speaking.No reason to hold a grudge.
In Hall Plane, such arguments were common.
"...Sorry. I was just really upset then. I know it must've been unpleasant for you."
It was the first time I saw her so downcast.
But her apology wasn't necessary.
I smiled lightly.
"Not at all. You made the right call."
"..."
"Really. You made a rational, calm decision.If you hadn't—if you'd followed Yoojung—we wouldn't have found me, and you all could've been killed."
"...Still..."
"Yoojung's a little hot-headed, but luckily we have you around. Next time, do the same. I'd actually prefer it."
"...Thank you."
When she finished speaking, our eyes met.
And for the first time—I saw Kim Hanbyul smile.
It was faint, fleeting, but unmistakably beautiful.
For a moment—another "her" from Hall Plane flickered in my mind.