Episode 421. Hwadong Dungeon Exploration (2)

“Damn it, damn it…. Why are you here!”

“The Apostle-nim is coming. If we just hold out until then… Hey, there’s someone ahead!”

The figures of the demons running towards this way slowly began to appear.

Their menacing appearances, with black horns sprouting from their heads.

I activated ‘Eye of Clarity’ and examined the demons.

‘Pretty strong.’

Low-tier S-Class.

They’re weaker than me, sure, but by normal standards, they’re considered quite strong demons.

Seeing two demons like that confirms they belong to Pandemic, doesn’t it?

“It’s, it’s Lee Hoyeon. Damn!”

“Fuck… Get out of the way!”

“What are you saying.”

The demons didn’t slow down even after seeing me.

But it didn’t seem like combat was their goal.

They looked like they were planning to escape past me, but I absolutely couldn’t let them go.

“Ma Cheon Gung, deploy.”

Since there were Pandemic demons inside the Hwadong Dungeon, there was no need to think further.

This means the dungeon’s anomalies are related to Pandemic’s plans.

Those demons must be captured alive.

Jiiing-

While Ma Cheon Gung was deployed, I even summoned the Arc.

I spread my magic towards the demons before my eyes.

“Lightning Wave.”

Kwajijijik-

Lightning spread out from my toes.

The demons rushing towards me skillfully dodged the lightning, but it wasn’t something they could evade that easily.

“Dark Swarm.”

I spread a dark red mist where the demons were trying to escape.

A poisonous mist that infects with deadly poison the moment it’s inhaled.

The bastards were distracted trying to dodge the lightning chasing them from the floor and the poisonous mist, and couldn’t avoid the other magic summoned from my Arc.

‘Crystal Field.’

Extreme cold spread, binding the demons’ feet.

Crystal Field bound their feet, and lightning and poisonous mist enveloped the area around them.

“Unbelievable… How many spells are you casting simultaneously?”

“I’ll buy you time. You escape, Luke!”

“… Aren. I can’t do that.”

“Luke…!”

“Bullshit.”

“Ugh!”

I tightly bound the bodies of the demons exchanging loving glances with magic ropes.

Why are they filming a romance drama here.

Annoyed for no reason, I smacked the back of the male demon’s head called Luke.

“Kuh, keueok….”

“Hey. Stop pretending to be hurt and snap out of it.”

“Luke! It’s no use. No matter what torture we endure, we’ll never tell!”

The female demon called Aren gritted her teeth.

Even if they’re strong against torture due to brainwashing, hitting them will eventually make them talk.

As I scanned the demons without much thought, the male demon, perhaps reading my expression, stepped forward protectively towards the female demon.

“P-please… spare us. I’ll do anything, just spare Aren….”

“Luke…!”

“That’s a good attitude.”

Just by the way they spoke, I could tell these two’s brainwashing had weakened.

Maybe they were lovers originally.

For demons like these, using brainwashing words to break their conditioning is also a method.

‘Should I regroup first?’

Honestly, knowing the information alone would be better, but it might be wiser to meet the Iris Guild members first.

Because I wasn’t sure if these two were the only Pandemic demons around.

The expressions of these two were the problem.

They clearly seemed like they were being chased by someone.

“Were you perhaps being chased by someone?”

“…! Now’s not the time. There’s a lunatic inside. We need to escape immediately.”

“A lunatic?”

Who could that be now.

‘Well, someone’s definitely here.’

Yeah, I should just rejoin the Iris Guild.

I confirmed the magic ropes were tightly secured and grabbed the demons by their necks.

And then.

The female demon lying down mumbled.

“Ah, ahh… too late.”

Jeobeok. Jeobeok.

The sound of someone walking echoed from the passage the demons had run through.

Unlike the demons who had rushed in earlier, this person sounded relaxed.

A moment later, a middle-aged man emerged from the passage, and I frowned as I saw him.

“….”

“Why are you here?”

“That’s what I’d like to ask. Mr. Moon Sungmin, or rather, Father-in-law.”

Moon Sungmin looked bewildered too.

He probably didn’t know I was here either.

‘What in the world is going on?’

Fine, demons appearing is one thing, but why is Moon Sungmin here?

Did he happen to run into me while trying to catch the demons?

Moon Sungmin glanced at me briefly, then looked at the demons tied up behind me.

“Hand over the demons.”

“Haa, I’m sorry. There’s a lot of information I need to extract.”

“If you’re going to interfere, then I have no choice.”

Moon Sungmin seemed to have anticipated my reaction and assumed a combat stance.

Dugun-

I felt the combat sense filling my body and drew up my mana.

I don’t think I’ll lose.

The last time I fought Moon Sungmin was before I learned the Arc and Ma Cheon Gung.

I’ve gotten much stronger now, so of course, I can win.

“… Annoying.”

But it’s true that it’s annoying.

Things always get tangled up.

Whenever I try to find an easier path, things block me like this, is this fate?

I can only curse the world.

“I won’t go easy on you this time. Father-in-law.”

Using Blood Beat, I accelerated my magic circuits and drew a magic circle as I watched Moon Sungmin leap towards me.

*

Meanwhile, in the empty boss room of the Hwadong Dungeon.

The investigation team was tidying up the mana density meters while reporting the results to Irene.

“Irene-nim! Both Team A and Team B have finished their investigation.”

“Teams C and D as well.”

“… Good work. Everyone, return to the common area and wait.”

“Yes!”

Tadadak-

Irene sighed as she watched the investigation team head off for their break.

She came to monitor Lee Hoyeon, so why was she doing this?

Being at the workplace, she found herself prioritizing perfect work execution, which annoyed her.

‘Still, he doesn’t seem to be doing anything strange.’

Although there’s no news, it seems his objective really is dungeon research.

“… I should head back too.”

Irene trudged along towards the common area.

And then, Dr. Kang Hyorin approached with a smile.

“Irene-nim. You’re working hard.”

“Mm. You’re working hard too, Korean Branch Manager.”

“The investigation teams would do fine on their own. I’m grateful you’re doing my work for me.”

Kang Hyorin, who had come closer to Irene, muttered while looking at the backs of the investigation team.

“I’m doing it because I want things to be easy for myself, so don’t worry about it.”

Although this distance felt slightly uncomfortable, Irene, unable to show it, walked towards the common area first.

However, Kang Hyorin playfully stuck close to Irene.

“Irene-nim.”

“Yes.”

“Do you perhaps have circumstances?”

“Circumstances?”

Irene tilted her head at Kang Hyorin’s sudden words, and Kang Hyorin turned serious before continuing.

“I naturally assumed you were in a romantic relationship with Lee Hoyeon… but it doesn’t seem like it. If there’s anything I can help with, I will.”

“… It’s nothing like that, so don’t worry. It’s fine if you don’t do anything.”

“Is that so? I followed you worrying unnecessarily. Well, a cadet like Lee Hoyeon wouldn’t do anything wrong, would he?”

Kang Hyorin smiled again as if nothing had happened.

Seeing that, Irene remembered why Kang Hyorin made her uncomfortable.

Unlike her appearance, she understands other people’s interests.

She was probing my current state with her words just now.

Every time those eyes scanned my body, I felt like my worth was being assessed, and it felt unpleasant.

The problem is that she’s extremely good at her job.

She infiltrated the Academy and leads the Korean branch so perfectly that I can’t complain.

Irene maintained her expression and said to Kang Hyorin.

“The investigation is all done, right? Let’s go back.”

“Yes. Ah, but Cadet Lee Hoyeon hasn’t returned yet.”

“Lee Hoyeon?”

“They said he went deep inside from the start, but there’s been no contact yet.”

“Hmm… Let’s go take a look.”

“Understood.”

Irene felt a sense of unease for no reason.

She didn’t think he’d do anything strange in this dungeon, but just in case.

Upon reaching the common area, Irene led the investigation team towards the passage Lee Hoyeon had entered.

At first, it seemed like an ordinary passage, but the deeper they went, the stranger the aura felt.

“Irene-nim. The mana meter is malfunctioning. The density is too high!”

“It seems like a battle is occurring inside!”

“… Let’s hurry and join them.”

The investigation team quickly moved inside and soon saw Lee Hoyeon confronting demons.

Behind him were two bound demons, and it seemed he was fighting other demons to capture them alive.

“….”

Irene gaped as she took in the battle unfolding before her eyes.

Blue spheres of mana floated around Lee Hoyeon’s body.

And the mana density, so high it caused the mana meter to malfunction.

Lee Hoyeon, standing within it, was overwhelming the opposing demons.

The opposing demons’ power level was high-tier S-Class.

He was overpowering an opponent whose victory I couldn’t guarantee even if I fought them, with overwhelming mana.

Kwaaang-!

The battle was already in its final moments.

An ice spear imbued with immense mana pierced the demon’s chest, scattering brilliant light in all directions.

As the entire investigation team was overwhelmed by the sight.

Lee Hoyeon, turning towards them, shouted.

“Don’t just stand there watching, help me out! We need to capture them alive!”

“… Everyone move!”

“Yes, yes!”

Only then did Lee Hoyeon look at the moving investigation team with a frustrated expression.

As expected, he had overpowered Moon Sungmin, but capturing him was another matter.

Just when he felt relieved that the Iris Guild had joined, he couldn’t describe how annoyed he was that they just kept watching the fight.

“… Damn it. He’ll be here soon.”

“What did you say?”

Just then, Moon Sungmin, muttering to himself, drew up his remaining mana.

Seureureuk-

Moon Sungmin deflected Lee Hoyeon’s attack with a mana-infused fist and prepared to escape.

“We have to catch him!”

“Right!”

Dr. Kang Hyorin, who had come beside Lee Hoyeon, cast a spell, and Irene charged at Moon Sungmin, but Moon Sungmin’s movements were swift.

His body began to turn into smoke.

Lee Hoyeon kicked the floor in frustration as he watched his form disappear in an instant.

“Argh, if only I had a little more mana…!”

His mana ran out at such a crucial moment.

If I had been just a little stronger, I could have caught Moon Sungmin.

Lee Hoyeon put aside his disappointment and said, looking at the Iris Guild members.

“As you can see, a battle occurred, which caused the delay. I’ve captured these two demons alive, so let’s head back.”

“Uh, uh-huh. Let’s go.”

The Iris Guild members were looking at him with uncomfortable expressions.

Why are they all making that face?

Lee Hoyeon blinked, looking at the faces of the investigation team.

*

Having regrettably let Moon Sungmin escape, I dragged the two demons all the way back to the dungeon entrance.

‘Still, I’ve gotten incredibly strong.’

I captured two demons, and my strengthened combat power gave me confidence.

However, there was one strange thing: Moon Sungmin tried to kill me.

‘He wasn’t like this when I met him before.’

Back then too, he tried to capture me alive, failed, and ran away.

But today, he attacked with the clear intention of killing me.

His mindset, which previously avoided harming humans, had changed.

‘Why did it turn out this way?’

As I was pondering, a guild member walking ahead shouted.

“There’s someone ahead! They look like an Academy cadet!”

“… A cadet?”

Irene tilted her head and looked ahead, and I also turned my gaze forward.

Standing at the dungeon entrance was indeed a man wearing a cadet uniform.

“Who could that be now?”

“Is it a cadet you know?”

“No. I don’t think he’s even a Victoria Academy cadet.”

I shook my head at Irene’s words.

If he were a Victoria Academy cadet, he should be in my memory.

I don’t remember that man’s face.

I frowned as I looked at the blond male cadet I’d never seen before.