Ryan turned around, following the direction of the gunshots, and his gaze locked onto Mary.
She stood there holding the gun, her posture steady, her expression icy and resolute.
In that instant, she looked nothing like the woman who usually smiled and joked beside him. She was calm, ruthless, and dangerous, like someone who had stepped out of another world.
"I told you to leave!" Ryan shouted, striding toward her with anger and fear tangled together. "Why didn't you run? What if something had happened to you?"
Mary felt her chest tighten.
He didn't ask where the gun came from. He didn't question how she knew how to use it. He didn't even look at the bodies on the ground. All he cared about was whether she was safe.
When Ryan had pushed her away earlier, Mary had reacted without hesitation. She had taken out the gun and fired. Consequences didn't matter. Questions didn't matter. At that moment, the only thing that mattered was that he was standing in front of her, facing death alone.
In the apocalypse, she had seen too much.
People abandoned their lovers, their children, their parents, all in the name of survival. Love, family, and loyalty became the first sacrifices when danger arrived. She had lived in a world where no one protected anyone without calculating the cost.
But when Ryan was in danger, his first instinct had been to shield her. He knew he was skilled. He knew he had a better chance of surviving. And still, he pushed her away without hesitation.
That single action shattered the last layer of ice around Mary's heart.
She no longer cared about the past, about rebirth, about secrets, or about what would happen tomorrow. At that moment, she only wanted Ryan to live.
Mary suddenly moved, rushing forward and throwing herself into Ryan's arms.
Before he could react, she grabbed his collar and kissed him hard.
Ryan froze for a heartbeat, shock flickering across his face.
Then he exhaled, cupped the back of her head, and kissed her back, deepening the kiss instinctively. It was fierce, desperate, and full of unspoken fear.
They only separated when they were both breathless. Ryan pressed his forehead against hers and chuckled hoarsely. "Wife, breathe. Looks like we'll need more practice in the future."
Mary's face flushed crimson. She shoved his chest lightly, then hesitated. "Aren't you going to ask me anything?"
Ryan looked at her quietly, his eyes steady and sincere. "You'll tell me when you're ready. I believe that one day, you will."
Her heart trembled. There was no doubt, no suspicion, no calculation in his eyes.
"I have a mindscape," Mary finally said softly, deciding to reveal it on a whim. "There are many things inside. I can store items, grow vegetables, even…" As she spoke, her gaze never left Ryan's face, searching for the slightest hint of greed.
There was none.
He listened carefully, as if she were telling him something ordinary, something important but not threatening.
Mary knew that if even a trace of greed appeared, she would leave immediately. She wouldn't kill him. He had saved her, and that debt would remain. But she would never stay.
After a long silence, Ryan spoke in a low, firm voice. "Don't tell anyone about this. Not even your parents. If something happens that can't be explained, I'll handle it. I'll be the one to speak. Do you understand?"
Tears welled up in Mary's eyes and spilled over.
She hadn't realized how badly she needed to hear those words.
He didn't question her. He didn't question logic or express that it goes against any kind of common sense. He believed her words completely. She could see no trace of disbelief on his face.
For ten years in the apocalypse, she had been strong because she had no choice. Only when there was no one left to rely on did she become invincible.
Deep down, she still wanted someone to protect her, to stand in front of her when danger came.
Ryan leaned down and kissed away her tears. "Don't cry. No matter what happens in the future, I'll stand in front of you. You won't face anything alone."
Mary smiled through her tears, a bright, genuine smile filled with warmth and trust. It was a smile that could topple cities.
Many years later, Ryan would still remember that moment clearly. Mary was wearing plain clothes, her baby-fat face glowing with happiness. She was beautiful beyond words.
"I believe you," Mary said softly. Then she glanced toward the forest. "Let's go find the others. I don't know if they ran into trouble."
As she spoke, she lifted her hand casually, and the wild boar corpses on the ground vanished without a trace.
Ryan nodded, his expression turning serious as he looked toward the depths of the mountain.
He hoped Albert and William hadn't encountered a herd of boars. Wild boars were more terrifying than most people, and he had just experienced that firsthand.
If Mary hadn't acted, his chances of survival would have been slim.
Outwardly, he remained calm, but inside, his heart was in turmoil. Mary had entrusted him with something that defied every kind of logic that mankind believes in. And he knew that anything that goes against common sense and logic will bring trouble from the greedy corporations and those with power.
At that moment, Ryan made a silent vow. No matter what it took, he would climb higher, stand stronger, and protect her no matter the cost.
They hurried toward the forest on the right, moving faster than before.
Ryan raised the whistle to his lips and blew it at intervals, the sharp sound cutting through the quiet woods.
Mary followed closely, her eyes sweeping the ground, the bushes, the trees. Half an hour passed, then more.
There were no footprints, no broken branches, no blood, no signs of struggle.
Albert and William were simply gone, as if the forest had swallowed them whole.
Mary's steps slowed, anxiety tightening in her chest. "Where did they go?" she asked, her voice tense despite her effort to stay calm. "There's nothing here. Did something happen to them?"
Ryan crouched and checked the ground one last time, then stood up slowly.
His expression was grave but controlled. "It's hard to say. They might have encountered something and changed direction on their own. If that's the case, they could have gone deeper."
Mary frowned. If they had left, why hadn't they signaled? Why hadn't they come back?
The forest felt suddenly oppressive, the silence heavier than before. They searched again, widening their range, but the result was the same. Nothing. Not even a clue.
Ryan glanced at the sky. The sun had climbed higher, and continuing to search without rest would only make things worse. "Let's eat first," he said decisively. "After that, we'll go toward the mountain ahead and look again. We need our strength."
Mary nodded, then hesitated before speaking. "I'll try to bring you into my mindscape. There's food already prepared inside. You need to eat properly before we keep going."
She grabbed Ryan's hand and focused her thoughts, but the next moment, only she vanished.
Mary reappeared inside her spatial dimension alone, her heart sinking. The realization hit her immediately. "What…? It didn't work?"