Ch.72Rescue Signals Are Dangerous (1)

Sensing a threat from the ominous attack, the Great Octopus began shooting all its tentacles at once, using even its reserved strength.

Wheeeing!

Swaaack!

Swaack!

“It seems to lack learning ability.”

However, that wasn’t enough to break through Serejia’s defense. The tentacles, filled with intense momentum, were all blocked by the water curtain, unable to reach Serejia.

‘Given the location, this is the expected outcome.’

Though this might be the Great Octopus’s home ground, Serejia is fundamentally a water spirit. In the ocean surrounded by water, she can exert her power better than anyone.

The octopus, having all its trump card attacks blocked, seemed flustered and began to flee, spewing large amounts of ink toward us.

Seeing this, Serejia raised her hand with a slight smile.

“How cute. To think it could escape from me.”

Whoong.

Chwaaaak!

What unfolded next was truly spectacular.

The middle of the ocean began to split and rise, lifting the octopus with it. The creature merely blinked its large eyes, not understanding what was happening.

“There’s no need to waste time.”

Whoong.

Chwajwajwajwa!

Seogeouk─!

As Serejia drew up her power, the octopus trapped in the water sphere began to be sliced apart.

The octopus writhed and let out silent screams, but unfortunately, there was no way to escape.

───!

The Great Octopus possessed monstrous regenerative abilities comparable to a troll, but even that became meaningless in this situation.

Eventually, the octopus went limp, the light fading from its eyes.

“It’s over.”

Thud!

Kwang!

Shwaaaa.

After dropping the Great Octopus’s corpse into the sea, Serejia released the sphere she had suspended in the air, pouring it down in the form of raindrops.

As expected, her work was always clean and decisive.

“Now, how shall I receive my payment? Huhu.”

“…Ah, we’re not done yet.”

The dungeon’s real boss remained, and there were navy personnel desperately fighting monsters while floating on the sea.

However, Serejia glanced in Seoha’s direction and said with a smirk:

“It doesn’t seem like they need help over there?”

“…That’s true.”

While we were busy fighting the octopus, the situation on the other side had practically been decided.

In contrast to the dungeon boss howling with large wounds all over its body, Seoha showed no signs of fatigue.

Swaaack!

Finally, Seoha charged across the water and plunged his spear into the boss’s head with a skill activation.

The battle was decided on both fronts.

“Should I help you deal with the small fry too? If you’ve become that incompetent, I’d be disappointed.”

“……”

At this point, we had essentially overcome all immediate challenges.

I used Serejia’s power to rescue all the scattered awakeners, and then joined forces with the troops on the beach to deal with the remaining monsters according to the original plan.

“Over there! Herd them that way!”

“When I signal, fire all at once!”

By the time the sun was completely setting, we had finally succeeded in stopping the dungeon break.

#

After the battle, when I returned to the beach, Song Hayeon ran up to me.

“Master! Are you alright?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

I was tired from running around, but I hadn’t sustained any major injuries. Hayeon sighed in relief and spoke again.

“I was so worried watching you fight precariously on that narrow platform. I thought I was going to die from anxiety.”

“Who do you think I am? I don’t make those kinds of mistakes.”

“Didn’t you once fall ungracefully from the walls while fighting an undead wyvern?”

“S-shut up. You can go back now.”

Whoong.

Crack.

I instinctively tried to dismiss Serejia as usual, but something blocked it. It was because I hadn’t paid the price yet.

“Old habits die hard, I see. Unfortunately, it’s not possible right now.”

“……”

Seeing Serejia’s meaningful smile, I awkwardly averted my gaze due to the sudden ominous feeling.

In this case, I’d have to transfer the curse of payment to Kwak Minji…

“Let me warn you in advance that I won’t tolerate any tricks.”

In the end, I had no choice but to pay the price to Serejia.

Leaving Seoha behind, who was busy with the aftermath cleanup, I moved to a secluded location alone to make the payment.

“So, what do I need to do?”

To be honest, I’ve never actually paid the price for summoning Serejia until now.

That’s why I was genuinely nervous about the situation.

“What should I choose~?”

Serejia circled around me, not hiding her joy as if the moment she’d been waiting for had finally arrived.

Then, suddenly changing her expression, she said to me:

“Well, first, get on your knees.”

“What?”

“Here, in front of me. So I can see all of that humiliated expression.”

Is she crazy?

As I looked at her with an incredulous expression, Serejia continued with a smile.

“Are you upset?”

“……”

“Then you shouldn’t have called me, no matter what. I don’t know the circumstances, but isn’t this what you often call the law of nature?”

As I expected, she had a lot pent up. Serejia watched my flustered state with an expectant expression.

“J-just kneeling is enough, right?”

“No. That’s just the beginning. This summoning alone has accumulated quite a price.”

No wonder she fought so flashily today, using all her power—it was all buildup for this moment.

Realizing this, I trembled as Serejia taunted me.

“If you really hate it, I can give you plenty of other tasks. Huhu.”

“This is really…”

At this moment, I deeply regretted losing my power.

But after a while, I came up with a brilliant solution and began channeling my magical power and spirit energy into the air.

“What are you suddenly doing?”

Regardless, I continued my actions without stopping. After several minutes, Serejia’s form gradually began to fade.

“T-this can’t be. How?”

There was one thing Serejia overlooked. While I’ve become too weak to ignore the price of summoning, the duration I could maintain the summon had also greatly shortened.

Normally, such a loophole couldn’t negate an artifact’s risk, but this situation was special. I had summoned Serejia through what’s called a double summoning.

I took out the artifact from the Book of Death, and then summoned Serejia through that artifact.

In other words, if I depleted my power to the point where I couldn’t maintain the Book of Death, the artifact would naturally be recalled, and Serejia would follow.

“Too bad. If you’re upset, bring a better method next time.”

“Y-you’ll regret this. Escaping like this won’t erase the price…”

Srrrrk.

Pung.

In the end, Serejia was sucked back into the Book of Death before she could finish what she was saying.

A triumph achieved through unwavering determination to think until the end. It was truly a perfect victory of wisdom.

“How pathetic.”

And then, an hour later.

Plop.

Plop plop.

Shwaaaa.

“…Master? What exactly are you carrying above your head?”

“I-I don’t know either.”

Having forcibly canceled the payment, I was enduring the backlash alone, receiving a rain shower while swallowing my frustration.

#

Drip.

Drip.

In a dilapidated underground structure covered in mold, where unpleasant-smelling water droplets ran down the walls, there was a man in restraints.

“…This is bad.”

The man’s name was Joseph Howard.

He was an awakener who worked as an information broker and freelancer throughout Europe.

‘I never imagined such a monster existed.’

As usual, he was investigating a secret organization on his employer’s request when he encountered an opponent he couldn’t handle and was captured.

Despite being a high-rank awakener, Joseph was completely helpless against his opponent.

To make matters worse, he was bound by special artifacts and skills, making escape impossible. It was truly a situation with no way out.

Joseph glanced at the closed door and began to draw upon the small amount of power he had gathered.

Whoong.

‘This is my last chance.’

The opponent had left Joseph alone, thinking he was completely neutralized, but Joseph was actually an awakener with quite special abilities.

Because of this, there was still something he could do even in this situation.

Focusing his mind, Joseph began to send a rescue request using the power he had barely managed to gather despite the interference from the restraining artifact.

Specifically, to the S-rank hunter from England who had hired him earlier.

Woong.

Crack.

Crack crack.

Joseph could influence the network world through his special abilities and skills.

Using this, it was possible to send a rescue signal containing all the necessary information to the target without being detected.

‘This is quite risky.’

If he failed this time, he would never be able to gather this much power again due to the influence of the restraining artifact.

That’s why Joseph activated his skill with utmost concentration.

However, the artifact interfered, causing his concentration to falter at the crucial final moment.

Flash.

“D-damn it all!”

The skill was completed by a hair’s breadth. By now, the message containing Joseph’s rescue request should have been transmitted through the surrounding waves toward its destination.

However, the target was the problem.

‘I sent it… to the wrong person…’

The message was sent not to his intended employer, but to someone completely unrelated.

That person was a Korean girl with whom he occasionally played games as a hobby.

“Ha, haha…”

The last glimmer of hope had been extinguished.

Joseph sensed his impending death and hung his head in despair.

In that place where the light of hope had vanished, only endless silence lingered.