episode_0011

Crack―!

Thick muscles.

And the sound of Gorilla bones, more developed than that, breaking echoed.

“…The knife isn’t going in well.”

“Just because it’s not a blunt head.”

Mahana wiped the sweat running down her face, stained with silverback blood.

To think that this small and cute favorite character was striving covered in blood.

It pained me, but since it was something she wanted to do, I silently helped.

Since she was the only one with the [Butchery] trait, there was nothing I or Moon Bora could do.

A marble the size of a human skullcap in her hand a little later.

Compared to the phalange of a Transparent-Tailed Monkey (D-rank), it was incomparably larger and of better quality.

“This should fetch a good price. With no damage, you should be able to get your worth.”

Nodding, Moon Bora neatly packed the marble into the porter’s bag Mahana had brought.

Meanwhile, having finished all the butchering, Mahana sat on the ground and repaired her shield with a hammer in her hand.

Thud thud thud―!

The shield Mahana used was a sturdy large shield that didn’t quite match her build.

I heard her father had picked it out for her…

“…Quite worn out.”

Even though I’m no expert on equipment, Mahana’s shield was dented all over, bearing numerous marks and scratches.

Shields are quite resilient, so it held up.

If it were ordinary gear, it would have been destroyed long ago.

“…”

For a moment, I pushed aside the unfortunate thought that the shield resembled Mahana and changed my steps.

I deliberately wandered around the area near the shredded silverback.

“…Ah, what a waste.”

As expected, the [Rune] hadn’t dropped.

Silverback Runes, regardless of skill type or category, inherently possessed the [Enhanced Strength] passive.

It was a versatile rune useful enough to keep for early to mid-game combinations if there was room.

“It’s a shame, really, even though it won’t likely appear often.”

Five minutes later.

It was time to finish all the preparations and set off again.

“Cough!” A clearly uncomfortable fake cough, as if telling everyone to listen, was heard.

Moon Bora, who had climbed onto a sizable rock, sent a serious gaze that was hard to believe belonged to an adorable SD version.

*

“Please pay attention for a moment. As the leader, I have a proposal to make here.”

Moon Bora took a deep breath slowly.

The story she was about to tell from now on was a crucial matter that must be addressed.

“You’ve probably already noticed, but this dungeon is most likely… no, 100% on the brink of a ‘Breakout.’”

“…”

“…”

Neither of them said anything special.

They had probably realized it long ago.

“As you know, ‘Breakout’ is an abnormal increase in magical power within the dungeon. The distribution and strength of monsters are incomparable to their original state. Therefore, the path ahead will be much more difficult. Moreover, we have barely defeated the mid-boss, leaving the ‘final boss,’ the core of the dungeon and the clearing condition, untouched.”

The final boss will undoubtedly be stronger than the Silverback.

This is an undeniable fact.

“This is not something we can handle.”

No, strictly speaking, it’s not something we need to intervene in.

Of course, it disqualifies us as ‘hunters.’

To suggest giving up and fleeing when faced with multiple imminent dangers.

“…However.”

Moon Bora looked at Mahana and Yusehara.

Though they had just met today, they were comrades who trusted her as their leader and entrusted their lives to her.

Just that fact alone made the depth of the bond forged with them irrelevant.

“…I cannot weigh their lives any longer.”

That was her judgment as a leader.

“It’s getting more dangerous. Going back will surely incur penalties, but it’s time to withdraw.”

Startled by Moonbora’s words, Yooseha raised his hand.

“…No, unavoidable… situation, but will there be penalties?”

He expected such a reaction from a rookie like him.

Because he himself initially thought it was unreasonable.

“Yes, that’s correct. Even if there were unexpected variables, once you enter the gate, no matter what measures you take, no matter what sacrifices you make, completing the subjugation is essential. That is the duty of a ‘Hunter.’ Regardless of whether it was the right decision, fleeing is no different from failure, so your trust score will undoubtedly be affected.”

“…Th-then-”

“-However! I value two lives more than this. My life is just as important.”

Moonbora’s resolute reply left Yooseha speechless.

He was slightly disheartened by Moonbora’s unexpectedly charismatic demeanor, which was hard to believe in this SD version.

If it were an in-game scenario, he would have pushed forward forcibly, but this was not a game but reality now.

Gambling when lives are at stake is not right when a life is worth only one coin.

Yooseha found himself contemplating retreat reluctantly.

As he did, a stiff sound came from beside him.

“……?”

Turning around, he saw Mahana biting her nails with a pale face, trembling slightly.

Through her long experience as a guiding officer, he realized that this behavior was something she exhibited when cornered.

In an instant, a thought flashed through his mind.

‘…Come to think of it, the employee talked to Mungyi.’

He didn’t hear it clearly, but he distinctly remembered the phrase ‘guild expulsion.’

‘…Then, if the mandatory subjugation fails…’

Does that mean the end of Mungyi’s Hunter life?

‘…No.’

That can’t happen.

Absolutely not.

If Mahana is expelled, her spirit will crumble, and she will never be able to recover.

Yooseha clenched his fist and opened his mouth towards Moonbora, who was saying, “So we should do that…”

“…No. We can’t do that!”

“…Yooseha?”

“It means we’re in a dangerous state where anything could happen at any moment. There’s no guarantee that the gate won’t explode right after we leave.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“The fastest option right now is us being here.”

Placing a hand on Yooseha’s chest, he sent a serious gaze.

“We have to do this!”

I have to do this.

For no one else but my favorite character.

‘…For Mungyi!’

*

“Ugh, damn it.”

Internally dismayed, Moonbora let out a small sigh.

Things were supposed to go smoothly.

Clearly uncomfortable, Moonbora, with folded arms as if indicating his discomfort, continued speaking to Yooseha in a subdued tone.

“Yooseha, your displayed martial arts skills. Yes, truly impressive. You should take pride in that.”

The first step of persuasion is to first disarm the opponent’s defenses and boost their mood.

Even beyond that, Yooseha’s skill is indeed remarkable.

“But that’s not courage; it’s recklessness.”

The second step is to carefully point out each issue.

“No matter how strong you may be, showing off strength in a dungeon like a foolhardy act. Even having a ‘breakout’ looming ahead is an unprecedented disaster? Failing to recognize the time to retreat leads everyone around to ruin.”

The third and final step is to offer compromise.

“Isn’t it unnecessary to do it now? As the saying goes, ‘a wise man knows when to yield,’ Yooseha, you will surely shine in other opportunities. So this time-”

“-No.”

But as if rejecting the notion entirely, Yooseha shook his head.

He looked at Moonbora, revealing an unyielding determination.

“For me, this is the last chance.”

‘…Why?’

Moonbora was perplexed.

What could a newbie who entered the gate for the first time today possibly mean by saying this is the last chance?

Especially perplexing was that gaze.

That gaze.

It was the eyes that Moonbora had seen in her childhood.

‘…Not for oneself…’

Eyes for others.

Lost in thought up to that point, Moonbora looked at Mahana with a sense of disbelief.

Watching the girl sweating and biting her nails, Moonbora finally understood the situation.

‘…Expulsion was imminent.’

It could be possible.

She wasn’t someone who frequented the “guild,” so she didn’t know the details.

But she had heard rumors that Mahana’s evaluations were plummeting.

‘…So, is this man… going to such lengths to help a newcomer… even risking his own life?’

Of course, the reason Yusseha stepped forward was because Mahana was his favorite character.

He was not being kind like a fool.

However, not knowing this fact, Moonbora could only feel torment in her heart from the conflicting emotions.

‘…A kind person.’

But a foolish one.

Moonbora was certain.

He definitely wouldn’t live long.

It might seem strange.

The power Mahana had shown just a while ago.

Moonbora herself possessed a formidable power, enough to be considered mysterious, so there would surely be no match.

That was true.

But…

‘Strength and survival are entirely different matters.’

In this world, it is the law that those called heroes cannot enjoy peace and disappear.

Especially in the “hunter” industry, where evil hands reach out even more towards such pure individuals.

Moonbora vowed. That’s why she had to save him even more.

At least one more person with such pure courage and warm heart should live, not someone already tainted by the world’s storms… It will surely make a better world.

‘…What’s wrong? Why are you staring at me with such a stern face? Do you need to go to the bathroom?’

Of course, Yusseha, unaware of this fact, was just having very rude thoughts.

*

“…Alright. I understand.”

Moonbora took a step back.

Instead of blindly persuading Yusseha, she chose a different approach.

She spread her hands like ferns and concentrated her magic.

The supercooled magic instantly turned into ice, forming an opaque ice cup.

Clang.

She inserted three branches inside.

“Let’s conduct a simple vote.”

“A… vote?”

A simple vote.

It was a brief ritual among hunters in dungeons when opinions clashed.

“If the majority agrees, we proceed with the clear. Otherwise, we turn back.”

Seeing Yusseha nod approvingly at the neat method, Moonbora thought, ‘It won’t be easy to break Yusseha’s stubbornness.’

Engaging in further argument would be unwise.

In dungeons, the constantly flowing magic stimulates the awakened senses of the hunters, making them even more sensitive.

And this heightened sensitivity also included aggression.

‘There’s no guarantee that Yusseha and I won’t cross each other’s lines and brandish weapons.’

It couldn’t come to that.

Therefore, Moonbora decided to tread carefully with a turning choice.

This was the wisdom of an elder.

Nodding at Mahana, who had hardened in a different sense, Moonbora believed in her wisdom.

“Well then, let’s proceed with the vote. Write your choice on the end of the branch and insert it.”

However, Moonbora’s expectations were completely off the mark.

The result: one branch marked “oppose.”

And…

“…”

There were two branches marked “agree.”