episode_0084

The first warrior party was scattered.

Among them, Aria was in charge of organizing the northern dungeon.

Aria, like Beatrice, was also put into the A-grade dungeon.

The party participating in the attack with her were two A-class warrior parties.

It was a party divided into high and low ranks among the A-class, but in front of Aria, a member of the first warrior party, such distinction was meaningless.

“Aria!”

Four members of the lower-tier party quickly approached Aria.

Aria, who had been dazed, flinched in surprise.

“Yes, yes… ?”

“What makes you uncomfortable?”

“No… .”

As they looked at each other, they thought they had to say what they had to say.

“It’s an honor to join you in conquering the dungeon today!”

“We have all been long-time fans of the first hero party since long ago!”

“Ah, I see… . Thank you.”

Aria smiled awkwardly.

“Thank you for conquering the dungeon today!”

“This is my first time in a class A dungeon, but I’ll try not to disturb you!”

“Yes… .”

After saying hello, the four low-ranking parties went back and chatted happily.

I’m nervous because it’s my first time in an A-level dungeon, I’m nervous, but since Aria is there, I think I’ll be able to conquer it, etc… .

It was a very friendly atmosphere.

Afterwards, the top A-level party also secretly visited Aria and said hello.

“It is truly an honor to meet the first warrior party.”

It was definitely relaxed and calm, as expected from a top tier.

“I never thought there would be a day when we would meet again. It’s been a while.”

One of them seemed to be Aria and Gumyeon.

As Aria laughed awkwardly, he asked embarrassedly.

“… Do you not remember?”

“Ah… . Yes, sorry… .”

His colleague next to him gave him a scolding.

“You are the 1st hero party, how many people can you save?”

“Okay, how can I remember everything? Especially something like you.”

“Noisy. … Well, you once saved me from a labyrinth-shaped dungeon.”

A labyrinth-shaped dungeon where the terrain changes at will.

When Aria heard that, she was also able to remember it.

After all, it was in that dungeon that Penny was rescued.

“Ah… . I remember.”

“Yes. I don’t think I was able to formally say thank you at that time. Thank you so much.”

“Oh, no, I don’t… .”

When Aria waved her hand, those who accepted it with humility showed touched smiles.

In the end, Aria was unable to provide any kind of explanation.

The two A-list parties each spoke with serious expressions.

In particular, this dungeon, where less information was released, was an important topic.

‘… If only Ian had been there.’

Whether it’s a manager’s guild or a standing army from a nearby city.

Ian didn’t care which side had the information or not.

He had most of the dungeon information and gave it in great detail.

Even if there were times when there was something unknown, it was a problem that could be solved if Kati stepped forward and explored.

Ian was able to keenly understand the structure and composition of the dungeon with only a few pieces of information provided by Kati.

‘scared… .’

Therefore, without Ian, Aria had no idea what was inside this dungeon.

The pressure that I might get hurt like last time was suffocating.

Fortunately, in the last dungeon, only the same first party members were together.

But this place is different.

There are two A-list parties who are complete strangers.

If you get hurt here, those 8 people will be aware of your injury and lack of skill.

That means revealing to the world that your functional value has clearly decreased.

‘I don’t like that…’ .’

They even admire them, and there are even people among them who have been helped by them.

He is in danger of letting those people know that he is not who he used to be.

Admiration and envy may turn into contempt.

‘It’s terrible… .’

However, it was impossible to run away.

‘please… . Just to see what’s inside… .’

I desperately needed Ian’s advice, but he wasn’t around.

In the end, I entered the dungeon without knowing any information.

*

Aria and the two A-class parties met at the same time in the boss room.

“As expected, Aria! You can do it alone!”

Someone shouted that, and Aria just smiled.

It wasn’t very easy.

Several times, I fell into a trap and was distracted, allowing an attack.

It’s just that it’s not noticeable on the outside.

Even the speed was slow.

If I were to use my existing skills, I would have reached the final cavity before they even arrived, and I would have had enough time to defeat the boss by myself.

However, Aria arrived at the same time as those two parties.

It was fortunate that the structure was such that each person had to go down a different path.

So the final battle began, but Aria was unable to take action.

This was because there were hundreds of gargoyles waiting in the cave.

With the heads of lions and the bodies of bats, they flew in and attacked the intruders.

Aria was busy defending herself for fear of getting hurt in front of others.

-thud! Coogung!

The gargoyle that hit Aria’s protection bounced back mercilessly, so that alone was an attack.

She focused only on Bangho and looked at the rest of the party.

I was afraid that they would realize their current helplessness.

However, those two parties were also busy blocking the gargoyle’s attack.

‘Phew… .’

Right after I was relieved that it was fortunate.

“Ugh!”

The gargoyle’s claws scratched someone.

The person who fell was the hero who had been helped by Aria earlier.

“Be careful!”

Another comrade called him, but he had already fallen from the battle line.

The moment the gargoyles fell on him, Aria’s eyes met his.

‘ah… .’

A person who has come to admire himself because of his help sees himself.

With earnest eyes, as if asking to be saved.

‘I am… .’

In the past, I would have been able to help that person while maintaining my own protection.

However, it was not possible at the moment as my skills were poor and my mind was distracted.

‘Why to me… .’

will be weighed.

Which is better for your reputation: protecting yourself here or helping that person?

Aria had no choice but to throw herself.

-Kugugu goong!

The gargoyles that were charging at him were hit by the protection and bounced away.

“Thank you… .”

However, a gargoyle came through the gap and scratched Aria’s back.

“Argh-!”

Aria let out a tearing scream and shot out a scorching light.

All the gargoyles in a straight line turned to ashes and scattered.

Aside from everyone being surprised by the incredible firepower, Aria trembled.

“No, no… ! I, I have become weak… ! Oh, no… . it hurts… . I feel sick, what should I do… .”

The clothes looked fine, with only minor scratches.

But Aria could never do that.

“Chi, healing… . You need to heal now. But what if I can’t see it? How do I check if it has healed? .”

The rescued man hurriedly ran to me.

Aria held her head and tried not to look at him.

“Don’t look! Don’t look at me, don’t look at me… .”

“I’m really sorry… .”

“I, I… . It’s because of you, it’s not because of me, I, I, I’m worthless… .”

The man shouted loudly as Aria muttered.

“Aria is hurt! Everyone please help!”

At that shout, everyone gathered around Aria.

Aria felt like she was going crazy as the popularity grew closer and closer.

“Don’t say that, if you say that… . I find out everything… . no… .”

Everyone finds out.

Aria, from the first hero party, was injured in a grade A dungeon.

Regardless of their actual reaction, Arya thought she would be looked down upon.

‘What should I do, what should I do…’ ? Should I kill them all? And what about the people outside? Kill them all too? But then, even my social value… .’

“Aria! Let us help you!”

The four lower ranked players also came forward and protected Aria.

“Thanks to Aria, I felt free at once! You are truly amazing!”

Someone among them shouted.

In fact, in the path of the scorching ray fired by Aria, there was a swarm of gargoyles targeting low-ranking warriors.

Unintentionally, she also saved them.

‘It’s not… . I don’t have anything like that… .’

I am appreciated and admired, but I am not happy at all.

They don’t even realize that their value is outstanding.

I’m just extremely anxious.

As misunderstandings pile up, fear grows.

How will things change when they realize their true worth?

‘I’m that kind of person now…’ .’

“Thank you for saving me. Aria!”

While protecting Aria, they constantly encouraged her.

In that situation, Aria felt an unfamiliar familiarity.

“… … .”

The self that helps those in need and receives gratitude.

Ian was kicked out after helping himself when he needed help.

These warriors deserve to be thanked for their help.

After receiving help, I took it for granted.

Somehow, similar yet completely different elements mixed together in my mind.

Aria’s blank gaze slowly rises.

A gargoyle glided with its wings folded in a blind spot that a lower-ranking hero could not see.

It was an angle that only Aria could see.

If that hero suffers the same fate, his functional value will also decline.

“… … .”

Only after what happened to her, Aria was able to have ‘empathy’ for the first time.

The target included not only that warrior, but also Ian.

‘I need Ian…’ .’

Aside from her possessiveness, Aria wanted to have Ian by her side.

No, it had to be that way.

‘There has to be Ian…’ .’

Only with him can one’s value become complete.

Aria spread the protective shield wide to protect the people, then quickly cleared out the dungeon.

*

Needing Ian meant putting everything back in the past.

He will be able to regain his skills only with Ian.

So, where should we start and what should we put back?

‘First of all, the four of us have to get together again. We don’t fight with each other like we do now, at least not as much as we used to… . But how can I do that… ? Oh, no way, that… .’

Those words that were falsely thrown at Ian.

The incident that Sylvia heard about without her knowledge.

Perhaps, if it weren’t for him, at least Sylvia might not have ended up like that.

‘If Sylvia finds out without me revealing it… .’

I suddenly remembered what Ian had said several times.

If you have something to say, don’t keep it hidden; say it right away.

‘But it’s really right to reveal that… .’

In order to soothe my anxiety, I was obsessively repeating the miracle of healing to the area where I was first injured.

“Aria… ?”

Sylvia came to visit.

“Ah, poetry, poetry, Sylvia… ? W, why are you here… .”

“Why are you like that… ? Did something happen?”

“Oh, no, there is… There was… .”

Sylvia approached as if she was worried.

Aria felt terrible looking at that face.

“Why on earth… .”

“I’m sorry!”

In the end, Aria decided to speak out in order to ignore the horror.

“Yes… ?”

“That fact… .”

Aria knelt down and vomited.

“I don’t love Ian… .”

“What are you suddenly saying…? .”

“What Sylvia heard at that time… . It was all a lie… .”

“… … .”

*

At that moment, Sylvia felt like the world was far away.

With everything feeling distant and blurred, only someone’s voice rang clearly.

‘love you.’

It wasn’t clear whether the voice was him, Aria, or Ian.

Then I found out.

It was Ian and himself.

Because Aria’s voice, which I overheard, cannot be heard clearly.

The only distinct voices are those of myself and Ian that I heard directly.

“Well, that, that, what, what now… .”

“It was all a lie… .”

“Why… ? Why lie like that… .”

Aria thought about the reason, but there was no answer that could satisfy Sylvia.

“Just… Yo.”

It is true as it is.

That possessiveness was just, really.

Because I just wanted it.

“… Just?”

The military police that came with Sylvia hesitated and retreated.

This is because the chill that Sylvia was giving off was unusual.

“Just saying… ?”

“… … .”

“Ma, that’s ridiculous… . Just saying I love you? Is this a lie too? Huh?”

“… … .”

“It’s a lie… . Tell me it’s a lie!”

Aria couldn’t open her mouth.

I couldn’t think of anything to say in response, and I knew that no matter what I said, I wouldn’t be able to calm Sylvia down.

From that firm silence, Sylvia realized that it was the truth without any deviation.

“Aaaagh-!”

Sylvia let out a scream that was close to a scream, and dozens of thin ice spheres fell from the sky.

Aria reflexively developed egg-shaped protection around her body.

The Ice Spear, which fought against the semi-elastic force, was unable to overcome and slipped to the floor.

At the same time, a huge ice flower unfolded from the ground and rose into the sky, trapping Aria.

The military police were busy retreating after seeing the sight, which was rather beautiful.

“Just… . Just saying… .”

A pillar of ice spun out like a whirlpool beneath the feet of Sylvia, who was muttering.

The ice floor brought Sylvia in front of Aria.

Even in this magical baptism, Aria’s protection was strong.

“Just… . I just said… .”

“… I’m sorry.”

“Sorry?! Is this something to be sorry about?! because of you! If only you hadn’t said that! I’m Ian! I, I, I… . I… .”

Sylvia’s voice, which had been blaming Aria, quieted down.

The day Sylvia complained after hearing Aria’s lie.

-You said nothing happened. How long have I heard about you?

Ian said so.

-I heard everything.

Sylvia lied to keep Ian tied up.

That was because I couldn’t trust Ian.

“I… .”

If only I had believed Ian.

If that were the case, at least for us, we wouldn’t have been like this.

“I… . I, I… . me… .”

Sylvia sat down like a broken doll.

Tears slowly flowed from her eyes as she knelt down.

“I, I… . Sobbing… .”

I had no right to blame Aria.

I had no right to hate anyone.

If she had trusted Ian, none of that would have happened.

-… Yes, I love you.

If only Ian had honestly said that I love him too.

If only I hadn’t taken advantage of his emotions.

This wouldn’t have happened… .

“Black… . Ugh… . Ah, ah… .”

It feels like there is a block of ice inside my chest.

If you touch the ice for too long, it feels hot rather than cold, and even feels like your skin is tearing.

That was how Sylvia felt right now.

“Ugh… . Iaan… .”

Aria couldn’t say anything as Sylvia sat down and sobbed.

I wanted to go back, but it was impossible.

The threshold has already been crossed.

“Ugh… . Ugh, ugh… . Ian, I’m sorry… . Oh I… .”

Hail fell from the sunny sky.

Sylvia was struck by hail in the middle of it all and pondered over her sins.

*

“Is this place?”

Wolfgang arrived at a large campsite.

A military police unit followed behind him.

This was where Penny, the manager of the first warrior party, stayed.

“I don’t know if the other side was handled well.”

Beatrice and Aria were left to Kylie and Sylvia, respectively.

If the other two refused, he would have no power to persuade them, and surprisingly, those two willingly agreed to help.

“Just in case, let’s quickly sort out Penny and let’s go.”

“Yes!”

To capture Penny, the military police entered the camp fence.