# Chapter 81
“Ow…”
Why did I pretend to draw when no one was even looking? I should have just created it and given it to him. Living a double life has made me overthink everything. Iyeon belatedly regretted as he curled his awkwardly tangled limbs. His entire body ached.
Though considered low, it was still a height of at least a few meters. A body falling without any safety measures couldn’t possibly be unharmed. The bruises from rolling and scraping against various surfaces were one thing, but it felt like his ankle had struck something like a rock. Even the slightest movement of his foot sent pain shooting up his leg.
It happened so quickly he hadn’t even thought to use his ability. Not using it habitually meant quick thinking no longer came naturally… Iyeon briefly reflected on his own carelessness.
‘Well, at least I didn’t hit my head.’
He decided to think positively. His whole body was already in pain; adding pessimistic thoughts about his situation would be too depressing. After lying there briefly in the position he had fallen, Iyeon got up as soon as the shock subsided slightly. Rainwater that had collected in the creases of his windbreaker streamed down as he moved.
Rummaging through his pocket, he pulled out his phone, which thankfully was intact. I would have been really upset if this had broken… Iyeon muttered dejectedly as he called Hyegang.
But Hyegang didn’t answer even after the ringtone continued for quite some time. There’s no way someone inside the hotel wouldn’t answer. Flustered, he checked his phone and found he had no service. This was maddening.
To find Sano, he would need to go up; to reach the hotel, he would need to retrace his steps, but it was too dark to see. It was obvious he would get lost, and with his ankle, walking for long periods would be impossible. The situation wasn’t good on multiple fronts. The best option was to move once the rain stopped and daylight broke.
Right, just stay put. The nightmare elephant or whatever—Je Sano will catch it… Iyeon thought nonchalantly as he dragged himself to stand in front of the slope he had fallen from. A wall of stone and earth blocked his way. Rather than trying to climb it, Iyeon simply stared at it.
Tiny white particles began gathering one by one around the wall and Iyeon.
Swoosh…
The particles, so white they seemed luminous, clumped together and gradually expanded. Growing in volume like blooming flowers, the mass quickly exceeded Iyeon’s height and took shape.
Gently curving to wrap around the three sides where the wall met the ground, shadows fell on the floor where a ceiling had formed. The space, open only in front of Iyeon, soon transformed to have the color and texture of rock.
What was completed was a small cave.
“Hmm.”
As Iyeon tilted his chin, the cave interior filled with necessities. A soft mattress, pillow, blanket, campfire, fresh clothes… Once even a semi-cast for his ankle was added beside the mattress, the cave looked like a proper hideout.
It’s been a while since I’ve used my ability so freely like this. Though I suppose it’s better not to use an ability that I only end up using when stranded like this… Iyeon limped inside. Chunks of mud and droplets of water fell from his dirty clothes.
“I’m really dying here…”
A groan escaped involuntarily as he plopped down on the mattress. Before Iyeon could even reach out, white sand was already clumping together in midair. When he grasped it, the mass transformed into a large towel. His mood improved slightly after wiping his rain-soaked face clean.
After providing first aid to his ankle, changing out of his wet clothes, and drying them by the campfire, his aching body began to protest again as if sensing he had finished his tasks. The warmth from the campfire he had created in front of the mattress made his body languid. Iyeon relaxed and looked around the cave he had made.
Though small, everything inside was generous in size. Not only was the mattress queen-sized, but the campfire was also large enough for five people to sit around. Several neatly folded towels were stacked together, and in the corner sat a pretty sofa that could accommodate a family of four.
‘Ah.’
Only then did Iyeon realize it was a bit excessive for one person.
With a wave of his arm, the campfire disappeared and a slightly smaller new one appeared. A couple of towels and blankets remained, but the sofa and table vanished completely. Only after adjusting everything to feel almost too tight for one person did the cave become orderly again.
“Habits are scary.”
It had been a very long time since he’d used this ability, yet this still happened.
Iyeon pulled the blanket over himself and flopped down. The sound of rain outside the cave and the crackling of the campfire created a rather pleasant atmosphere. I didn’t get to hold an umbrella over Je Sano. Now that things were a bit more comfortable, such thoughts came to mind.
Wait, I could have drawn iron or something from the ground and made my own moving parasol. You stubbornly used your powers at the amusement park when they told you not to, so why were you pathetically standing in the rain here? How annoying. Iyeon grumbled needlessly.
Does he think I disappeared because I got upset and went off on my own? Well, who would think someone would stupidly roll down a slope? The stupid one self-deprecatingly mocked himself.
Considering Sano’s personality, Iyeon didn’t even expect him to come looking. Even if they had gotten a bit closer, there were limits… Actually, that might be better. It would be awkward if they met now and Sano saw Iyeon sitting there having used every ability he had.
Maybe he went back to the hotel? With weather like this, that would probably be better. In conditions where you couldn’t see a foot ahead, a translucent nightmare elephant wouldn’t even be visible.
‘I hope the rain stops soon.’
A faint sound like an explosion was heard. It was a majestic sound that made the ground vibrate ever so slightly. Iyeon’s ears perked up.
It wasn’t nearby, but from somewhere not too far away. It was difficult to guess the nature of the sound, having never heard anything like it before. If forced to guess, it was like something bubbling underground…
Underground?
‘No way.’
Even while thinking it couldn’t be, his body moved instinctively. Iyeon approached the cave entrance with his limping leg. A white umbrella had somehow appeared in his hand.
Splash. The sound of stepping in mud was squishy. Leaving the cave, Iyeon walked around the area. He moved at a pace that seemed more like a stroll to avoid falling or slipping, but this was the best he could do.
It had been a while since the rain started pouring so fiercely it could pierce through rock. Logically speaking, Sano must have either already caught the nightmare elephant and gone down, was temporarily sheltering from the rain, had retreated to the hotel entirely, or some combination of the three. Unless he hadn’t been rained on at all, but when Iyeon last saw Sano, wasn’t he standing directly in the rain? Wandering around in this weather in such a state would be tantamount to suicide.
Though it was surely just his imagination that he now recalled Sano from months ago, sprawled carelessly in a rainy alley as if he had no attachments to this world.
“…”
Even knowing better, he couldn’t return to the cave. Iyeon unknowingly tightened his grip on the umbrella.
“Je Sano?”
This seemed close to where that sound came from earlier… Iyeon looked around. If he heard the same sound again, it would be easier, but everything remained quiet. He wasn’t sure if that was fortunate or unfortunate.
“Je Sano!”
His voice kept getting drowned out by the sound of rain. Iyeon continued walking, raising his voice progressively louder, but he couldn’t sense anyone else’s presence at all.
Yes, of course Je Sano wouldn’t be here in this situation. After wandering around for quite some time, Iyeon finally convinced himself.
No doubt he’s taking a warm shower in the hotel suite and lying on the bed right now. And in the morning, while jogging, he’ll spot Iyeon emerging from the forest and smirk with his handsome face saying, “You look like a complete mess.” Then Iyeon would grumble that he should show some respect for a patient and…
Grip.
At that moment, a hook-like hand appeared from somewhere and firmly seized Iyeon’s forearm.
