After pondering briefly, she opened her mouth.

“Does no one know why Rifts form… or exactly what they are?”

This seemed like a question the status window wouldn’t answer.

Why had the system brought her to this world?

If closing Rifts was the goal, was there a specific reason why it had to summon ordinary Lee Haneul, who had been struggling to live in another world, after her death?

Haniel was curious about that.

What was the relationship between Rifts and the system that made the system want to eliminate Rifts?

In response to that question, Regan lightly touched his chin as though searching through his memories, then answered:

“No one knows the true nature of Rifts. Perhaps dragons, who are said to live for ages, might know something different.”

He lowered his gaze, then looked at Haniel as though he had retrieved something from his memories.

“In very ancient texts, Rifts were described as scars inflicted on this world long ago. They say they are traces and wounds left by a god who departed this world, to punish the living beings who remained here.”

“A god who left this world, punishment from a deity… no, essentially wounds?”

“Yes. I’ve heard that was during a time when dragons still lived together with us in this world. They too tried to resolve the situation with their prophetic powers, but… perhaps they also deemed it hopeless, as they followed the god and left this world together.”

I see. So there were gods and dragons. And what’s this prophetic power?

Somehow, this intensely fantasy-like history made her sense of reality feel detached.

But Haniel tried her hardest to store all the information Regan was providing in her mind.

‘But how does Regan know all this knowledge?’

She had guessed from his unavoidable elegance despite his rough behavior, and his somewhat imperious attitude…

The knowledge Regan shared seemed like the kind that ordinary people in this world wouldn’t commonly have access to.

It felt like the product of education received by the ruling class. Listening to Regan speak this way made Haniel’s throat feel a bit dry.

This werewolf, before her, had barely told her anything about his previous life until now.

“Of course, most people probably just know Rifts as distorted phenomena filled with magical power.”

“Why? Because nobody researches them?”

“Because they’re dangerous.”

Regan answered curtly.

Rifts are dangerous. No Rift could be handled carelessly by any living being or mortal, and using them for any purpose was a misguided act. That’s what Regan believed.

But…

“…Some say someone should develop them to use their more powerful forces.”

The man’s gaze unconsciously flickered toward the area beyond the forest.

It was in the direction of Anaserph, the elven country attached to the southern part of the Nightmare Forest.

The only country where the location of a ‘Great Rift’ was officially known.

But unlike the Hume, the elves there didn’t simply consider the Great Rift a disaster, but also believed it was a ‘blessing’ from the gods that strengthened their race.

Foolish ones who couldn’t gauge their own limits and hastened their own demise. Narrowing his eyes, Regan suddenly turned his head toward Haniel.

“But even those who have researched Rifts for hundreds of years get caught in them and lose their lives, Haniel. You must not take them lightly.”

“Um, so… I understand, but…”

“Promise me you won’t enter the forest.”

So that was his conclusion.

The forest is dangerous, don’t enter it.

Haniel met Regan’s eyes as he moved closer to her. Even though he was shrouded in shadow, she could see his blue eyes rippling.

“You are… my mate.”

“!”

“Didn’t you consider that if you die, I’ll be left here alone?”

“Regan…”

Regan growled out the words, his voice rumbling deep in his throat.

“Golden Oak or whatever it is, if you need it, just tell me. I’ll bring you as much as you want.”

His eyes, like the deep sea, seemed about to devour her.

Was it the instinct of an animal facing a predator? Haniel’s heart beat wildly.

Feeling her ears growing hot for no reason, she raised her hand to touch her earlobe.

“Do you think you’d recognize it right away if you saw it? When you didn’t even know such a tree existed until just now…”

Calm down… No, but ‘mate’? Was Regan’s embarrassingly forward behavior also an extension of his mating season and the power she possessed?

Feeling her face flush, Haniel shook her head slightly and said in an awkward tone:

“Remember when I said I’d take you in?”

“…How could I forget?”

“If you’re worried about being left alone, I promise I won’t die at least until your mating season is over, so you can put your worries aside.”

“Huh?”

Mating season? What on earth was she saying…

Could it be that Regan’s dull female thought he was doing this sort of thing simply to satisfy his mating season? Regan shook his head.

“That’s not it. The forest isn’t just about Rifts.”

“Not just about Rifts?”

“The Hume trackers following me… Hah.”

“What?”

D*mn it. Regan swallowed his words.

He had meant to say that there might be people pursuing him, and that even if she didn’t approach the Rifts, if the tracking party found traces of Regan Fenril, the territory’s boundary might actually be dangerous. But he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

“…”

“Regan?”

Sensing something unsettling, Haniel began to examine the suddenly silent man’s face carefully.

Regan, who had stopped mid-sentence and suddenly clamped his mouth shut like a clam.

She thought he might be about to share something more personal this time, but once again, Regan drew a line and revealed nothing about himself.

“What’s wrong?”

“…It’s nothing.”

A chill emanated from the man’s movements as he straightened his clothes with a somber expression.

Although he knew that someday he would have to confess everything to Haniel, Regan remained silent this time as well.

If he were to reveal his troubled past piece by piece, drawn by Haniel’s kindness, he feared that things that would entangle her like vines might emerge.

Until now, Haniel had bestowed upon Regan things he had never imagined he could enjoy.

Things that fulfilled him.

Land pulsing with vitality and sturdy fences that made him feel ‘protected.’ Warmth that calmed his beast-like raging mind like the surface of a serene lake, and the peacefulness that filled his inner being.

And… a sun-like hand that willingly offered all of that.

Ridiculously, at this moment, Regan was afraid that Haniel might become frightened upon seeing his past and the shackle-like attachments that came with it, that she might regret letting him in even now.

What if she took back the mercy she had so willingly and casually bestowed, just as easily as she had given it…

“…D*mn it.”

Regan, who had turned slightly pale, muttered softly.

“In any case, it would be better not to go in.”

He warned Haniel with cold eyes that felt chilling to the bone.

The growling sound resonating from his throat made her hair stand on end.

And then Regan turned abruptly and began striding away toward the field.

“Huh? Regan? Regan!”

Hey!

Haniel, belatedly realizing what had just happened, called out to him, but the man did not look back.

“That guy…”

D*mn it.

Haniel swallowed her curse.

He ran away again!