My Childhood Friend’s Stock Will Never Fail Chapter 44

“You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”

 

Joohoon asked as he sat down beside Yoohee.

Her head was still foggy from the impact, but she forced herself to come to her senses.

 

“Mm-hm.”

“That’s a relief. Let’s head farther inside after we rest a little. The elf might come all the way here.”

“……Okay.”

 

As she relaxed her guard for a moment, an intense fatigue suddenly washed over her entire body.

Well, after throwing up so much and being tossed around everywhere, it was only natural that she would have trouble holding out unless she were an Esper.

 

Come to think of it, she still had the potions she had received as scenario rewards.

 

“Inventory.”

 

When she quietly said the word, two neatly stored potions appeared. A Special Status Ailment Recovery Potion and a Lukewarm Health Potion. So this was what they were meant for.

 

‘But which one should I drink?’

 

She took out one potion in each hand for now.

Naturally, the Special Status Ailment Recovery Potion with the “Special” effect was better, but she wasn’t suffering from an abnormal status like being drunk or hallucinating right now.

 

After thinking for a moment, Yoohee put the Special Potion into her pocket and opened the cap of the Health Potion.

It was in a small container, so she could simply down it in one gulp.

 

Gulp.

 

The lukewarm liquid, with its strangely vague sweetness, slid down her throat.
Then, little by little, energy began returning to her limp body.

 

‘Not bad.’

 

She had taken it with some doubts because it was only a lukewarm potion, but its effect was better than expected. At the very least, she should be able to move around without pushing herself too hard.

 

After fully recovering her strength a little while later, Yoohee spoke to Joohoon.

 

“Should we get moving now? It’s better to move before it gets any darker.”

“That’s true, but…… are you sure you don’t need to rest any longer?”

“Yeah, I’m fine now.”

 

Joohoon glanced at Yoohee’s complexion, but she had already completely recharged, so there was no reason to delay any longer.

 

They headed deeper into the forest, their feet crunching through the snow. It wasn’t exactly a situation where she could afford to admire the scenery, but she couldn’t remember the last time she had walked through untouched white snow like this.

 

‘Are we the only people here?’

 

The system had said they would be randomly scattered into event dungeons, so the other possessed individuals had probably been sent to different event dungeons.

 

Though she couldn’t imagine there being anywhere worse than this.

 

Just then, Joohoon suddenly stopped walking. His eyes shook, and his expression became urgent as he covered Yoohee’s mouth.

 

“Hold your breath. Whatever you do, don’t breathe it in.”

 

After giving her a firm warning, Joohoon removed his hand and scooped Yoohee into his arms.

 

Still carrying Yoohee, he began moving quickly again. As trees flashed past her eyes, Yoohee covered her own mouth and held her breath.

 

She tried to hold it as long as she could, but before long, she reached her limit.

 

“Mm, mmm…….”

 

Puff.

 

In the end, she let out her breath and inhaled a large amount of the cold air again, only to catch an unfamiliar scent carried by the wind.

 

It was faint, but there was definitely the smell of something burning. At the same time, her mind became hazy and her body felt as though it were stiffening.

 

‘What is this…….’

 

Poisonous herbs……?

 

Back when she was working as a guide in her previous life, the youngest member at the center had accidentally burned poisonous herbs instead of dried grass. She wasn’t completely certain, but this sensation felt similar to that time.

 

But there was no way poisonous herbs could grow in a snowy mountain like this…….

 

“Haa…….”

 

Just then, Joohoon’s steps became noticeably heavier. Being an Esper didn’t mean he had complete immunity to poison, so it was bound to take a toll on him.

 

Joohoon fled while avoiding the scent of the poisonous herbs, but eventually stopped near a large rock and set Yoohee down.

 

His ragged breath formed a cloud above his head.

 

“Sorry, just for a moment…… Let’s rest before we go.”

 

But Joohoon’s breathing gradually grew harsher.

 

He must have inhaled much more of the poison than Yoohee while carrying her all the way here.

 

“Just a little…… Just a little longer…….”

 

There was no way the poison would subside that quickly. Even so, Joohoon looked so pitifully desperate to reassure her that she felt sorry for him.

 

‘We can’t stay like this.’

 

If they remained here, the ending would be dying young together with Joohoon in the freezing wilderness.

 

Then Yoohee suddenly remembered the Status Ailment Recovery Potion she had put in her pocket.

 

Strength returned to her numb hands. If she had that potion, there was still a way to somehow turn this situation around.

 

“……Ugh.”

 

But the poison had already spread through her body, and it refused to obey her.

 

Even putting her hand into her pocket was difficult, so she had to struggle for quite some time.

 

[The Constellations supporting Joohoon are urging you to take action.]

 

The Constellations, unaware of what Yoohee was going through, urged her on.

 

She had already been trying to do that, but their impatience only made her feel more rushed.

 

‘Damn it, move……!’

 

With her brows furrowed tightly, she concentrated every ounce of her attention on her fingers.

 

At last, she managed to touch the small glass bottle inside her pocket.

 

She grasped the bottle containing the potion with her index finger, then leaned against the tree behind her and pushed the cap off.

 

Pop.

 

The glass bottle opened with a light, crisp sound, and Yoohee immediately drank its contents without hesitation.

 

“…….”

 

The forest was filled with nothing but the sound of the wind blowing past and their breathing. Yoohee’s eyes flashed.

 

Not only did her body feel lighter, but it was as though strength she hadn’t had before was surging through her.

 

And the moment her eyes met Joohoon’s anxious gaze, Yoohee’s lips curled into a small smile.

 

“I’ll make you feel better now.”

 

She raised her arm, now freed from the poison, and wrapped it around Joohoon’s neck.

 

As she gently rubbed his stiff shoulders and began guiding, warmth rose from the point where they touched.

 

Having already grown accustomed to Joohoon’s mana, guiding him was not difficult.

 

When Yoohee cupped his ears, reddened from the cold, with both hands and looked up, Joohoon’s eyes widened.

 

“How……?”

“I had an antidote. I got lucky.”

“Ah…….”

 

Joohoon’s gaze was vacant. Then he murmured softly.

 

“……I’m always the one receiving help.”

“No, no.”

 

Yoohee shook her head, but Joohoon reached out and wrapped an arm around her waist.

 

Since she still had her arm around Joohoon’s neck, there was no way for her to move, leaving her with no choice but to be pulled into his embrace.

 

“……You know, would this make you a little warmer?”

 

They were so close that the tips of their noses nearly touched.

 

Looking down at Yoohee, Joohoon gently curved his eyes into a smile, the corners reddened by the cold.

 

“It probably won’t make much of a difference, but I wanted to give you something too.”

 

[Constellation ‘Cider Holic’ sponsors a Hot-Hot Hand Warmer.]

[Constellation ‘Galactic YOLOer’ sponsors a Cold-Proof Winter Coat.]

[Constellation ‘Mother of Failure’ sponsors a Cozy Hand-Knit Pair of Gloves.]

“…”

 

The Constellations, who had merely sat back and watched until now, suddenly began showering her with sponsorships.

 

Watching the winter supplies rain down from the sky, Yoohee was once again impressed by the fickle hearts of the Constellations.

 

Joohoon, who had remained perfectly composed despite drinking so much earlier, suddenly hugged Yoohee tightly again with hazy eyes.

 

“Thank you, Yoohee.”

 

‘……That expression is cheating.’

 

She needed to answer him, but she was so captivated by his expression that she couldn’t think of anything.

 

Apparently, the Constellations felt the same way.

 

In any case, after finally breaking the long embrace, they headed toward the tree beside which the sponsored items had fallen.

 

Yoohee gathered up a bundle of winter supplies and handed them to Joohoon.

 

“There were things like these right over here.”

“Really? Where?”

“U-under the tree.”

 

She couldn’t exactly tell him that they had dropped straight out of the sky.

 

Joohoon examined the coat, but fortunately, he quickly abandoned his suspicions and put it on.

 

“It doesn’t seem like an elf’s, so there might be people nearby.”

“Yeah. Oh, and this too.”

 

Yoohee handed him the gloves.

 

They had received two coats, so they could each wear one, but there was only a single pair of gloves.

 

“I’m fine. You use them, Yoohee.”

“No, I have a hand warmer.”

 

Yoohee refused, but Joohoon wasn’t willing to back down either.

 

Then, as though he had made up his mind, Joohoon accepted the gloves and said,

 

“Then—”

 

He put one glove on his right hand, then slipped the other onto Yoohee’s hand.

 

With his ungloved hand, he gently took Yoohee’s right hand, which was likewise without a glove.

 

“Should we do it like this?”

 

Joohoon’s large hand gently stroked the prominent knuckles on the back of Yoohee’s hand.

 

Yoohee could only blink at the sudden situation, when cheers from the Constellations rang in her ears.

 

[The Constellations supporting Joohoon are telling you to accept his proposal.]

[The Constellation who sponsored the hand-knit gloves feels proud.]

 

They had been fighting for their lives just moments ago, yet the atmosphere had suddenly shifted into a romance story, leaving Yoohee bewildered.

 

Could an elf suddenly pop out from somewhere at any moment?

 

“Wait.”

 

As soon as she thought it, she sensed a presence nearby.

 

In an instant, Joohoon pulled on the hand he was holding and drew Yoohee into his arms.

 

Her forehead bumped against his firm chest, and then she heard a voice that sounded strangely familiar.

 

“You…….”

 

A clear, melodious voice, like an elegant musical instrument playing a pure, ringing note.

 

There was only one person Yoohee knew who possessed such a beautiful voice.