episode_0032

Jeong Yushin grabbed his sword.

‘Neck and heart. Let’s block just those two places.’

He was well aware of his lack of skill.

There was only one way.

Give up flesh to take bone.

He repeated it in his mind and looked at Karin.

At that moment, Karin’s ears perked up.

“You’re lucky. Barbaroi.”

Karin sneered and stepped back a few paces, releasing her dagger.

Karin’s gaze went past Jeong Yushin.

Jeong Yushin also released his sword and stepped back a few paces.

He turned his head and looked at the cave’s exit.

Torches flickered in the distance.

Someone was approaching.

Judging by the fact that Karin wasn’t moving, he figured they weren’t enemies at least.

After waiting for a while in the clearing, three people came out.

Their faces were familiar.

They were Karin’s party members.

Gilshion discovered Karin and ran over.

“Karin!!”

“Did only our party come? What about the other parties?”

“A new monster appeared on the entire 4th floor. The high-level search party stepped up to stop it, but they said it would take some time, so only our party and Captain Hans’ party came first.”

“Is that so? What does the new monster look like?”

“It looks like a centipede.”

“That’s all?”

“I couldn’t see it in detail because I came in a hurry.”

“Tsk.”

Karin clicked her tongue and looked at Jeong Yushin.

Jeong Yushin met Karin’s eyes.

‘Karin, what are you going to do?’

Will she use her party members to finish him off?

Or will she bury the conflict and quietly pass by?

Karin let out a long puff of air and turned her body.

She had chosen to postpone the fight for a while.

“Looking at it, it seems Hans’ party has transferred to another area. Let’s go to the city. We should be able to meet there.”

“Understood.”

Gilshion answered and took the lead.

Jeong Yushin shouldered the luggage on the ground and stood at the rear of the party.

Roynel quietly came up to his side and whispered.

“Nothing happened?”

“Yes.”

The fight with Karin was put on hold for a while.

His goal was achieved since the party had reunited.

That was enough. At least for now.

Jeong Yushin suppressed his emotions.

Karin’s sharp and obsessive energy subsided with the joining of her party members.

It was different from when they were alone, separated from the party. You could say she had found a little bit of leeway.

Perhaps Karin was also feeling anxious.

‘Let’s just do what needs to be done.’

He readjusted the heavy luggage and followed behind the party.

The party left the clearing and went down the slope.

As they went down, the city’s scenery that was visible at a glance gradually disappeared, and only the towering walls remained.

They came down from the clearing and reached the ground. In the distance, the fortress walls revealed their magnificent form.

Ahiman, who was standing next to Jeong Yushin, mumbled something. It was an unintelligible language.

His eyes were on the city, and his face was flushed.

Jeong Yushin asked Ahiman.

“Is there something pleasant happening?”

Ahiman turned his head and looked at Jeong Yushin.

His entire eyes were dyed black.

“Umtahushi soryohumta.”

‘What is he saying?’

“Are you having fun? Yes. I understand.”

Roynel, who was right in front, turned his head and glanced at Ahiman before speaking.

“Don’t worry about it. Mystics are sometimes like that.”

“Why is he doing this?”

“They say it happens when communion with God deepens. I heard that your tongue gets twisted when divinity dwells in your body. I don’t know the details. Ask Ahiman later.”

“Yes.”

Ahiman continued to stare at Jeong Yushin.

Jeong Yushin didn’t have anything to say, so he raised his thumb towards Ahiman and gave him a thumbs-up.

Karin’s party walked on the land with not a single blade of grass.

The city was farther away than it looked. So it took quite a long time to arrive.

The fortress walls came closer, and the fortress gate appeared.

Karin’s party stood in front of the huge fortress gate.

‘Wow. It’s really big.’

Jeong Yushin was overwhelmed by the size of the fortress gate, and his mouth slightly opened.

The fortress gate was so high that you had to raise your head all the way to see the end of it.

The fortress gate, made of metal, was slightly open.

Gilshion hesitated as he was about to enter the fortress gate.

Karin, who was standing behind him, asked.

“Why?”

“…Nothing.”

Gilshion mumbled and walked into the fortress gate.

As they opened the fortress gate and went inside, it was full of Gothic-style architecture.

Sharp and angular stone buildings.

Alleys stretched like spiderwebs between those buildings.

The city was quiet, and not even a rat was roaming on the main road in the center.

“This is strange.”

Roynel muttered.

“What’s strange?”

“Hobgoblins.”

Roynel’s face, illuminated by the torch, was a little stiff.

“Let’s find a place to rest first. We’ve walked for too long.”

Karin said.

Karin’s party entered an alleyway and found a small house to enter.

The inside of the house was desolate.

Dust was piled up on the table and chairs. Still, it seemed like someone had recently used the fireplace, as there were leftover firewood rolling around.

The party members cleaned up the surroundings and sat around the fireplace.

Jeong Yushin unpacked his luggage and took out a blanket to cover the window.

“We’re not going to light a fire this time.”

Karin said.

Jeong Yushin nodded and fixed the torch he received from Gilshion inside the fireplace.

“Are you going to use alarm magic?”

Ahiman asked. His words were clear, but he seemed excited.

“I’m going to use it, but we still have to stand guard. You never know.”

In front of the dimly lit fireplace.

The party members began to eat their food in silence.

Whether they were tired, nervous, or had their own thoughts, no one opened their mouths.

Jeong Yushin also rummaged through his luggage and took out something to eat.

The menu was jerky and biscuits. They were things that Darmong had packed for him.

Jeong Yushin picked up a biscuit.

The biscuit’s shape was a little different.

‘A teddy bear?’

Pfft!

Roynel suddenly spat out his food.

The party members all looked at Roynel at once.

Roynel coughed a few times as if he had choked.

“Khut. It’s nothing.”

At Roynel’s words, the party members turned their heads and ate their food again.

Roynel suddenly chuckled.

Is he out of his mind? How can he laugh in this situation?

Jeong Yushin calmly asked.

“The shape is unique, but is it enough to laugh about?”

Roynel stopped laughing abruptly.

“Thinking about it, I don’t think it’s that funny.”

A moment later, Roynel laughed quietly again.

Jeong Yushin asked.

“What’s so funny? Let’s laugh together.”

“You wouldn’t understand.”

‘Is he the Joker?’

His spine tingled.

He looked around and the atmosphere was strange.

Gilshion was staring intently at the teddy bear biscuit in Jeong Yushin’s hand.

“Would you like one?”

He took out a biscuit and waved it towards Gilshion.

“…I’ll take just one.”

Gilshion slyly approached and quickly snatched the teddy bear biscuit.

Seeing that, Ahiman said something.

“Inkaritu ahuhyam.”

“Yes. Here, have one.”

He handed a teddy bear biscuit to Ahiman as well.

Seeing them craving the teddy bear biscuit even in this situation, they must have incredibly strong nerves.

Is it because they’re mid-level searchers?

Or do they believe they will meet the high-level searcher, Hans’ party?

Since they came to the 5th floor, they must have thought that Hans’ party would naturally be here too.

Jeong Yushin stopped thinking and put the biscuit in his mouth and chewed.

It was sweet, as Darmong had put a lot of honey in it.

Jeong Yushin glanced at Karin.

Karin was looking down at the floor as if she was thinking deeply about something.

“Karin-nim, would you like one?”

Jeong Yushin held out the biscuit.

“No thanks.”

Karin raised her head and coldly refused.

‘She’s really angry.’

He didn’t think he said anything wrong, but it seemed her pride had taken a significant hit.

He decided that he, with a heart as wide as the sea, would reach out first.

Jeong Yushin licked the teddy bear biscuit while saying.

“Chup chup. It’s sweet? Are you really sure you don’t want it?”

Karin glanced at Jeong Yushin’s licking tongue.

Karin’s face turned slightly red.

Why was she giving in to this man?

Clearly, they were glaring and growling at each other as if they were going to kill each other just a few hours ago.

But looking at that tongue, the boiling anger subsided.

This man’s scent was also different from others.

It was nostalgic and comfortable.

And it was sexy.

She definitely thought there was some kind of trick to it.

Was it an imprint?

Karin’s expression slightly hardened.

‘Whether it’s an imprint or whatever, I won’t lose. I’m the daughter of the representative of the Beastman Alliance. I will definitely overcome it.’

Karin steeled her heart.

“Give it here.”

Karin snatched the biscuit from Jeong Yushin’s hand and put it in her mouth.

‘That’s the one I licked.’

Jeong Yushin turned his head.

Roynel was staring at him intently.

“Would you like one?”

“No, I don’t like sweet things.”

The meal was over.

The group drew lots to determine the order of the night watch.

Lastly, the alarm magic.

Ahiman closed his eyes and began chanting.

Strange languages flowed from his mouth.

Gilshion was still frowning and shaking his body.

Jeong Yushin closed his eyes.

He could hear a rustling sound in one corner of his head, but it was bearable compared to the beginning.

The chanting ended and Ahiman opened his eyes.

“It’s over.”

Jeong Yushin wrapped himself in his robe and lay down flat on his back. The wooden floor had a musty smell, but it wasn’t damp or cold.

‘This isn’t bad.’

He patted himself on the back and closed his eyes.

* * *

Jeong Yushin opened his eyes at the rustling sound.

When he woke up, the party members were packing their luggage.

The party members’ faces were gaunt.

Although they had laughed for a while yesterday, the tension and fear crept up their backs and tightened their hearts as soon as they lay down and closed their eyes.

They had passed through a black portal that they had never seen before.

Fortunately, they had reached the 5th floor, but it was different from usual.

The heavy air and desolate atmosphere floating in the underground city were ringing alarm bells in their heads.

The party members, including Jeong Yushin, tossed and turned, repeating shallow sleep.

The party members packed their luggage with bloodshot eyes and gathered in front of the fireplace to eat their food.

Roynel opened his mouth.

“Shouldn’t we think about other routes?”

His voice was hoarse as if he had inhaled a lot of dust.

“The transfer stone in the central area is the fastest route.”

Karin replied.

“We need other plans too. It’s not like that’s the only transfer stone there.”

There were three transfer stones on the 5th floor.

The transfer stone in the central area moves you to the ‘Corridor’ area.

If you go straight to the end across the city, there is another transfer stone that moves you to the ‘Forest’ area.

Finally, if you go down to the city’s underground, there is a transfer stone that can take you to the ‘Sewer’ area.

All three areas were governed by different ‘rules.’

The closest transfer stone right now is in the central area. But Roynel was making a different suggestion.

“Where are you suggesting we go?”

“‘Forest’ area isn’t bad either. If we quietly pass through the outskirts of the city, we can safely go to the next floor.”

Gilshion interjected.

“Roynel, have you forgotten? We are an investigation team ordered by the Union and the Committee. We have a duty to find out what’s going on in this unpleasant city, at least.”

Ahiman nodded as if he agreed with Gilshion’s words.

“Gilshion is right. Karin and Roynel, don’t forget your purpose. Going fast isn’t everything.”

Karin frowned and looked back and forth between Gilshion and Ahiman.

“Do you feel something? Tell me.”

Gilshion fiddled with his helmet.

“If I had to say, I felt a power similar to a mystic’s magic.”

Ahiman chimed in.

“The texture is different, but it’s definitely an otherworld’s power.”

Karin sighed.

“Okay. Then let’s slowly go around the city and find out. Is everyone ready?”

The party members nodded.

* * *

Karin’s group left the campsite and came out onto the street.

Not a single small sound could be heard on the dark and desolate street.

They roamed the streets for several hours, but there weren’t any particular encounters.

They spent a whole day exploring the entire southern area of the city.

They couldn’t find anything.

They couldn’t find Hans’ party either.

Karin’s party returned to the shelter where they had stayed.

After tossing and turning with their eyes open for several hours, they went out into the streets again.

The party members’ complexions, except for Ahiman, gradually hardened as time passed.

Hobgoblins rarely appeared on the city’s main streets. It was because many searchers came and went. But it was the first time that they were not visible at all like this.

“This is too quiet.”

No one answered Karin’s words. But everyone had the same thought.

The bizarre silence did not end as they passed through the main street and reached the central area, but rather increased in weight.

‘This is starting to feel fucked up.’

A drop of cold sweat ran down Jeong Yushin’s neck.

He had a bad feeling.

‘Is something big coming? Ah. Please.’

He knew it was dangerous. Nevertheless, Jeong Yushin chose to participate as a porter.

Why?

‘How can I resist the gold coins?’

He also wanted to know firsthand. What exactly was happening in the labyrinth.

He trusted the strength of the mid-level searchers.

He also trusted the experience of those who explore the unknown.

He weighed the various conditions and made a decision after careful consideration.

He calculated that he wouldn’t die at least since a high-level searcher party was involved, but the situation was not normal.

His careful calculations were gradually becoming distorted from the moment he was swallowed by the black portal.

A while later, the party members arrived at a large square.

Central Square.

A statue with its upper body collapsed stood tall in the center of the square.

Hundreds of people and hobgoblins gathered around the statue, looking up at the underground ceiling.

The searchers who had disappeared until now.

The hobgoblins that were not seen.

They were all gathered there.

‘Ah.’

He didn’t know what it was, but one thing was certain.

‘We’re royally fucked.’