Earth’s Doom Starts with… Me?

'Drip.'

I can feel blood trickling down my neck, to my shoulder, then finally on the ground.

'Drip.'

The faint sound of my blood dripping tickled my ears.

"It's enough. Stop right now."

I heard a familiar-sounding voice come from a figure in front of me, between myself and that monster.

It was Owen. He gripped the arm holding the dagger that drew blood from my neck and held Kim Minjun back so he wouldn't move.

"Urgh..." Kim Minjun groaned as he struggled to dig his dagger deeper into my neck, which heeded no result despite his effort as Owen tightly kept him at bay.

I can breathe. I'm alive. I moved my hand slowly to my neck and my fingertips met the warmth of my blood. Did the dagger penetrate deep? Or did it not? I can't tell as my adrenaline rushed, making me unable to register pain yet.

"Chaerin!" Dmitri rushed over to us and crouched down next to me, "don't worry! The healer is here! You're in good hands!"

I stayed still and kept my eyes on Kim Minjun. I grabbed his dagger-wielding hand tight and pushed it away from my neck.

"I'll take it from here," Owen knocked the back of Kim Minjun's neck and knocked him out. He then plopped the latter's body over his shoulder and walked away.

"Kang Hayun, please heal her. And Dmitri, you keep an eye on her while I'm gone," Owen said as he walked, when suddenly he turned his head towards me, "welcome to the Vanguard, newbie."

That damn old man.

'Ding!'

[You have completed your quest]

[Acquired 100 gold]

[Quest: find a lodging]

[Reward: random item box, 2 stat points]

...So now I'm admitted in an 'alliance' huh. Didn't even get a chance to pick one myself. Also, what a weird quest I got this time?

As his back went further away from us, I can see another person running towards us.

"Wait-- cough! Cough! Akh--" I coughed loudly and gasped for air, filling my lungs with much-needed air that I didn't realize I forgot to take in.

Dmitri sat me up and leaned my helpless body on his, "Chaerin, don't speak yet!"

Before I could answer, another voice came from my right side, this one sounding more timid and soft, "E-excuse me, please bear with me for a bit."

I could barely make out her face from my blurred vision, but I can feel a warm, calming power enveloping my body. My surroundings emitted a soft green glow, and bit by bit, my body began to feel more... full of life?

"I'm sorry, please don't think too badly of him..." said the soft-spoken voice.

As my vision was starting to return to its normal state, I saw a worried young girl averting her gaze from me. Her hands were emitting the very same soft green glow around me.

"...Are you his friend?" I spoke, this time with much more ease as my wounds began to heal.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself! My name is Kang Hayun, and I, uh... I guess I'm his childhood friend... Maybe?" The girl fumbled with her words. She seemed unsure of her own word choice.

I looked at her with a questioning expression, and she immediately focused her gaze on my wound to avoid my gaze.

"...I don't know what's going on between you two, but it seems like you guys get along well?" I said as I relaxed my body into Dmitri's hands. I could get used to being healed. It kinda felt like sleeping on a soft, newly washed bedsheet after a long day of work. My god do I miss my bed.

"That's true, Hayun has always been close with Minjun," Dmitri said to me, "they both entered the Vanguard at the same time, quite young too!"

She blushed upon hearing Dmitri's voice. Is she just shy or...?

I sighed, "if you're close with him, of course he treats you nicely. It's natural that you'd think good of him. But as for me? Look at how he treated me." I smiled weakly at her.

"T-that... I... I'm sorry..." she looked down and clenched her fists.

"I'm kidding. He's just not in his right mind, I suppose," I faintly laughed, "after all, I get to be healed up now, don't I?"

"Ah, that... I'm really sorry..."

"You don't need to apologize for something that you didn't do," I patted her soft, black hair, "thank you for healing me."

She blushed and nodded lightly, and continued healing me while I let out a long sigh.

"Haaa... I can't believe that old man just sacrificed me to a satanic spawn," I looked up at Dmitri, "sorry, your coat is now ruined..."

His eyes trailed to the piece of garment barely hanging around my shoulder, "ah! The robe from our raid earlier!"

Dmitri didn't look the slightest bit concerned, instead, while wearing his signature wide smile, he said, "don't worry! I'll get you a new one soon, okay?"

...He missed my point.

"No, I mean... I'll just... I'll give you a new robe once I get my hands on some money..." I rubbed my head.

"It's done." Kang Hayun finished her spell and the glowy-green-thingy dissipates. She truly is a great healer, my body feels light and my energy is back.

"Umm... How do you feel?" She asked me as she fidgeted with her fingers.

"I feel like I'm ready to land another blow on that bastard's peepeepoopoo."

"Wh-what!?" Her whole face went red as she was taken aback by my words. She's very cute.

"I forgave him, but that doesn't mean I don't want to make him regret almost killing me."

She stared at me with her mouth wide open as I chuckled, "come."

"...Come where?" she looked up at me.

"To the cafeteria, of course. Are you going to skip dinner?"

-------

"Quite amusing, eh, Owen?"

"Call me general Owen." The referred man laid down Kim Minjun's unconscious body on a bed.

"Don't be like that, we're close friends!" A young man next to him with spiky white hair poked Owen's cheek while pouting.

"We are colleagues, general Zhang," He paid no attention to him and strapped the unconscious Kim Minjun to the bed, "what is the first general doing here? You're usually always busy somewhere."

"Aw, did you miss me? No need to be shy~" the white-haired man took out a cherry-flavored lollipop and popped it into his mouth, "after all, we'll be closely working together soon~"

"What do you mean?"

"You'll understand soon," he turned his attention to Kim Minjun's body and observed his wounds, "that girl, is she on your team?"

Owen glanced at him, "no. She's under my watch but she's still unfit to be included in the roster."

"Eh~ I think it's fineee," Zhang pouted, "little cubs need to understand danger before they learn to hunt, you know?" His eyes glimmered dangerously as he grinned from ear to ear.

"She will die before she learns how to properly use magic. She'll be a hindrance to us on the battlefield." Owen crossed his arms.

Zhang smiled, "indeed, the cub is still not capable of controlling her magic properly. It was so... rough and amateurish," he paused, "but, you also saw it, didn't you?"

"..." The older man said nothing, still crossing his arms.

"Her eyes," Zhang motioned two fingers towards his eyes, "she never looked away from her opponent's attacks."

Chills crept into Owen's body as he felt himself getting goosebumps.

"She only looked away when she's not being attacked, Owen. Even when the dagger was centimeters away from her face, she never closed her eyes." Zhang burst out laughing creepily, which didn't help Owen's goosebumps.

"She is unfit for raids, and that is final," Owen stated firmly, "I shouldn't have let you spectate."

"Owen, those are the eyes of a hunter, not the eyes of a prey." The white-haired man brought his palm to his face, still grinning wide.

"First general Zhang, this matter is none of your business." Owen's voice was filled with rage.

"Why are you so hesitant about letting the cub loose?"

"I'm just doing my job. Don't get in my way." Owen glared at him.

Zhang stared at him in silence for a while, his eyes looking deep into Owen's.

Suddenly, he smiled, "okay, see you soon then!" He tapped Owen on the shoulder, and then leaned in close to whisper in his ear, "be careful, unattended cubs might get stolen."

"What--"

"Bye-bye!" Zhang smiled brightly and strutted out of the door, closing it with a slam and leaving Owen with a dumbfounded look on his face.

--------

The cafeteria was bustling with people. Some were busy eating, others were cooking or playing around, and the air was filled with chatter and laughter. The large room didn't feel that large anymore, even with plenty of windows, now that everyone were gathered here. While others were eating heartily, I...

"My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined." I stared into nothingness while I mourn my dinner.

"Haha! It does taste a bit weird, but the taste grows on you!" Dmitri laughed while chomping down his third chicken leg in front of me.

"The only thing growing on me is pain." I replied with a straight face.

How can their food be so bland? Did they even season it? It tasted worse than cardboard! I got goosebumps just thinking that this will be my meal for the next foreseeable future...

"Um... Do you want some hot chocolate?" Kang Hayun offered me while looking at me pitifully.

"Yes! Yes, I would like some hot chocolate..." It doesn't matter if the hot chocolate is also tasteless, at least I won't have to torture my tongue any longer.

Hayun nodded and poured me some hot chocolate from her bottle. Seeing as it stayed hot, I guess insulated bottles exist in this place. I said a little thank you and gulped it down instantly.

"Th-this...!"

"Oh no, does it not suit your taste? I-I'm sorry..." Hayun panicked.

"Kang Hayun!" I grabbed her hands.

"Eep!"

"You're my savior!" Tears formed in the corner of my eyes.

"E-eh?" She looked flustered, unable to comprehend what is happening right now.

"Your hot chocolate tasted godly! You've saved my miserable dinner! How did you make it? Was it by magic?" I was genuinely touched by how great that chocolate was. It was smooth, silky, not too sweet, and I can taste the chocolate very clearly. It was a splendid experience.

"Oh, I... I just love to cook and bake sometimes... So hot chocolate is not a big deal..." Hayun looked down while smiling, she looked shy but obviously happy.

Thank god I brought her along. Honestly, I didn't invite her just to play buddy-buddy. I was going to pry on how to use healing magic. But this? This is a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one.

"You're really talented, you know. You sure it wasn't by magic?" My eyes twinkled, still thinking about that hot chocolate. Maybe I can cook my own food with magic? Then my culinary life won't be so bad!

"Hahah! Magic usually can't do that, Chaerin!" Dmitri laughed at me.

I pouted, "well, how would I know..." Damn, there goes my culinary magic plan.

"Oh, that's right. Chaerin, you're still unfamiliar with the magic system here, aren't you?" Dmitri turned his gaze towards me.

"Yes...To be honest, I myself am not really sure what was happening earlier..." I stroked my head.

Dmitri laughed, "haha! It's okay! You lost your memory, so it's fine! We'll explain it to you."

Oh yeah, I was playing the 'lost-my-memory' narrative. I almost forgot.

"Thank you very much."

"But, you were pretty skilled in fighting. I wonder, was it muscle memory or something?" Dmitri asked, catching me off-guard.

"Oh, I... Thank you? Probably, haha? Anyway, what were you saying about magic?" I quickly asked, changing the topic.

Dmitri opened his mouth and started to explain, "okay, first off, there are two ways to classify magic. By its 'magic type', and by its 'elements'."