They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System

Chapter 331: Rare Respect

But in the silence, the weight of what they had just accomplished pulsed in their chests. They passed through the Forest of Regrets alive, with their limbs complete. No poison in their systems, or serious injuries. It was a miracle.

“I doubt anyone comes down here anymore,” Abuchi said quietly, looking around at the dust covered crates and shattered tiles. “We could stay here for the night.”

“Let’s not risk moving further tonight,” Nnenna agreed, rubbing her eyes. “We’re all drained. We need to rest and start fresh.”

No one argued. The others nodded slowly, exhaustion sinking deep into their bones. For the first time in nearly a month, the ground beneath their feet wasn’t shifting, alive, or threatening to swallow them whole.

They spread out across the cold floor of the basement, taking up corners, leaning against walls, unrolling thin blankets where they could. There was no comfort, ⁷only quiet survival.

But they had made it this far.

The basement of Purlit’s abandoned town hall was heavy with silence. Though they lay on the dusty floor, none of them could truly rest. The weight of what awaited them the next day filled the space like fog.

Nnenna sat near the old stone wall, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees. Her eyes were open, unfocused, staring at the flickering shadow of their torchlight on the ceiling.

They had come so far. Led through danger after danger, solving problems she never imagined she would face in real life.

But… what if she didn’t survive tomorrow?

Not every smart decision had guaranteed survival. What if her next one was the last?

“I don’t want to die,” she admitted silently. It was the first time she let herself think it. The fear had been there all along, crawling beneath her calm, but she had shoved it down in favor of logic.

Now, the stillness made it louder.

day. Just let me make

The stillness outside Purlit should have felt

memory, the one where she was smiling, eyes bright, but what she

Was she still alive?

for him, praying

you, Ruth,” he whispered into the dark. “Hold

everyone, face hard with thought. Her arms were wrapped tightly around herself, but it

been told before they left

get to Purlit, you’ll know

hadn’t left her. And now, they were

really be ready to make that choice

didn’t have the answer. But she wasn’t

now and then, he glanced her way. She looked so small, so still, but stronger than

stopped thinking about what she did for

had ever risked that much

know,” he thought. “If we make it out of this, I’ll tell

cabinet, arms crossed, eyes half

Karen had changed.

fear, or something deeper. But

feared it would change

just survive it first,” he

soft glow, the

would be

not everyone was certain