episode_0196

The damp air I haven’t smelled in a long time. Jung Yushin stood quietly, holding only a single dagger. Nothing was heard except for the party members’ breathing. After waiting for a moment, Mick raised a torch and lit up the cave.

Whoosh. The party members looked at each other’s faces and eyes, checking each other’s complexions. He is an intermediate explorer. There was no need for words, as the work to be done was already decided. Pitt immediately gestured.

‘Let’s go.’ Mick nodded and took the lead. The party members moved their feet.

Only the sound of footsteps echoed faintly in the dark cave.

* * *

About 13 days have passed since entering the maze. Jung Yushin and the party members were standing in front of the transfer stone in the 9th floor corridor area. Jung Yushin put the longsword he was holding into its scabbard and looked around at the party members. They were unkempt from not washing, but they were fine. It’s not a strange thing.

Pitt and the Meat brothers were excellent rearguards and guides. In particular, their pathfinding skills were formidable. The moment they crossed the portal and stepped onto the next floor, they immediately grasped their current location and devised a route to the next floor. Their archery skills were, of course, top-notch.

It didn’t seem like they had achieved any linked engravings in particular. Nor did they possess any overpowered engravings to speak of. They were simply breaking through the floors with pure skill alone. The capabilities of the intermediate explorers sent a chill down his spine. The combat was pleasant. The blood and screams belonged solely to the monsters.

The arrows that Pitt and Meat carefully shot pierced the monsters’ vitals accurately. All Jung Yushin and Mick had to do was to clean up the remaining scraps of monsters. There were no conflicts among the party members either.

Pitt and Meat were cheerful brothers, even if they couldn’t speak properly. Mick didn’t have a difficult personality either, and Jung Yushin was a quiet person unless someone was being annoying next to him.

‘Scar, what’s up? Let’s go quickly.’ As Pitt gestured, Jung Yushin put his hand on the transfer stone. The party members passed through the 9th floor corridor area via the red portal and arrived on the 10th floor. Ash Village.

A dreary gray village was visible in the distance. Jung Yushin followed the party members into the village. It was different from last time.

Lights and torches were illuminating the darkness on every dilapidated stone wall, and quite a few explorers were wandering around the village. There were also many monster explorers. A strange sense of unease came over him as he entered the village.

Suspicious explorers wrapped in robes were filling every alley. An explorer, drooling and grinning foolishly, was leaning against a stone wall, and party members who appeared to be his companions were standing around the crazy explorer with blank expressions. There was also an explorer who had laid down his dead companion and was blankly smoking a cigarette next to him.

There were also explorers arguing loudly over the treasures they had obtained from the maze. Scenes of blood and death, and a landscape of overflowing greed, unfolded continuously from the outskirts of the village. Jung Yushin realized the strange sense of unease.

This place is. Another Eastern District inside the maze. Pitt gestured as he walked.

‘Let’s rest here today. We’ve collected enough magic stones, so we can replenish our supplies and go again.’ Jung Yushin and the party members entered a pub in the center of the village. Last time, they had a battle with the Lich Prince here.

He thought it had ended in complete chaos, but he felt a new emotion seeing so many people gathered like this. The pub was full of exhausted explorers. A bald man, who appeared to be the owner, was standing at the counter wiping glasses. Pitt approached the counter and handed over a piece of paper. The bald man read the paper and glanced at Pitt.

“That’s a lot of stuff you need. I’ll only accept magic stones as payment. Are you a Huntsman Clan member?” Nod.

When Pitt acknowledged it, the bald man crossed his arms. “The Huntsman Clan members have set up a campsite north of the village. Go there.” After paying with magic stones and replenishing food and supplies, they left the village and walked.

Since the cave was blocked on all sides anyway, there was no need to go far. As they moved, several campsites were set up outside the village. Pitt skillfully found the Huntsman campsite.

A bonfire was burning in the center with a few tents set up. The Huntsman Clan members who were sitting got up and waved their hands. “Yo! Why are you so late? I thought my neck was going to fall off from waiting?”

Pitt and Meat gestured. ‘We were a bit late collecting magic stones for supplies.’ “Is that so?”

The other Huntsman Clan members also recognized Pitt and Meat and waved their hands. As Pitt and Meat sat down among the clan members, Lumi cleared his throat and opened his mouth. “Ahem! Shall we continue the meeting then? According to the Guide Association’s information, that ‘monster’ is on the 12th floor.” Someone raised their hand.

“Lumi, the swamp area floor is known to be vast. Didn’t they say exactly where the prey is?” “I heard it’s a lake area far from the transfer stone?” Someone clicked their tongue.

“Tsk. There are more than one or two lakes in the swamp area.” “There are many lakes in the center of the floor, right? At least we know where to go, so it’s a gain. We can search the floor slowly, moving from there.” “Is that so? Still, we’ll have to search for quite a while, it looks like a tough road ahead. Is there no other way?” The Huntsman Clan members began to talk in earnest.

Jung Yushin had nothing else to do, so he stood there blankly. At that time. Mick nudged Jung Yushin’s shoulder and pointed to another bonfire. Warriors in full armor were gathered and sitting there. It seemed the Huntsman Clan members had separated only the frontliners and gathered them separately. Jung Yushin and Mick approached the bonfire.

A porridge in a pot was bubbling over the burning bonfire. Mick picked up a wooden bowl and spoon placed around the bonfire and scooped out the porridge in the pot. Jung Yushin also followed Mick and scooped porridge from the pot into a wooden bowl. Holding the bowl, he took a seat anywhere. To be able to taste steaming food in the maze.

‘I’m so touched.’ Jung Yushin took off his helmet and put it in one place and hurriedly put the porridge in his mouth. Jung Yushin closed his eyes and savored the taste.

Biscuits, jerky, and pork fat danced softly in his mouth. “It’s delicious.”

It was easy to swallow as it was warm food he hadn’t eaten in a long time. The frontliners gathered at the bonfire glanced at Jung Yushin and Mick and continued their conversation. An old warrior opened his mouth.

“Have you guys heard the news?” “What news?” “There’s been a commotion that a magic sword was discovered in the swamp.” “Where did you hear that?” “At the pub here. They said there was a sword fight?” A middle-aged warrior frowned.

“How good of an item is it for there to be a sword fight?” The old warrior shrugged. “I don’t know either. They said it’s a sword that emits a chill.” “A magic sword. How fascinating. But it probably isn’t a great sword. Isn’t it a magic sword with a limited number of uses?” “Most of them are like that. But I still want to try using it once.” “You can just work hard to save up money and buy one.” “How easy is it to save money? Tsk. It’s hard enough to maintain equipment. How can you burn expensive gold coins just to use magic once? I’d rather buy a scroll.” “Still, I want to try using it just once.”

A young warrior chimed in with sparkling eyes. The frontliners squatted by the bonfire and chatted with sparkling eyes. Jung Yushin tilted his head as he ate the porridge.

‘A magic sword.’ He is greedy for it. But not to the point of a sword fight. Because he can grant ‘characteristics’ with Sacred Weapon.

‘I can just copy the weapon, so why…?’ Of course, he doesn’t have much magic power, so he can’t squander Sacred Weapons with granted characteristics. Jung Yushin finished his meal, nodded off, laid down in the tent designated by the Huntsman Clan, and fell asleep.

It was the first time in a while that he could sleep soundly without straining his nerves.

* * *

Several hours passed, and the Huntsman Clan members gathered again. They had taken sufficient rest and completed their resupply. All that remained was to go to the 12th floor and start hunting.

The Huntsman Clan members rushed towards the transfer stone. The party members gathered in front of the transfer stone. First, Lumi’s party put their hands on the transfer stone.

Whoosh. A blue portal and a red portal were created. Lumi waved his hand and stepped into the red portal.

“Pitt, come quickly this time. If you’re late, I won’t even leave the fish bones.” Pitt and Meat made heated expressions. After all of Lumi’s party members stepped into the portal, the portal closed after a while.

Next was Pitt and Meat’s party’s turn. When Mick put his hand on the transfer stone, a red portal was created. Mick went through first, and Jung Yushin immediately stepped into the portal.

Weeeeeee. His vision blurred and a ringing sound echoed in his ears. Something is wrong.

It wasn’t this bad when he took the portal before. He felt more dizzy than usual. It was like being laundry that had been put in the washing machine and spun several times? “Huh?!”

Splash!!! As soon as he came out of the portal, Jung Yushin lost his balance and plunged into the swamp floor. The rotten water of the swamp completely filled his helmet.

Jung Yushin struggled to get up, drinking in the rotten water. “Ugh!!! Ptooey!!! What is it?!”

His backpack and body were soaked, but he couldn’t care. Jung Yushin regained his balance and raised his head. The scenery of the swamp area unfolded before his eyes.

Crimson skies and withered, twisted trees. And a thick, blood-colored fog that shrouded the earth and the forest was covering the swamp. Jung Yushin looked around.

No matter how long he waited, no one came out of the portal. ‘What?’

Whoosh. The red portal disappeared. Jung Yushin hardened his expression.

Damn it. What the hell?!

He was taken aback for a moment. Jung Yushin calmed his mind and organized his thoughts.

This is definitely the swamp area. He doesn’t know why, but he was separated from his party members. Even though there was a bond of connection.

The bond of connection. The receptionist who handed over the bond of connection came to mind.

‘Was it that bastard?’ Why the hell? Is the employee working at the Explorer Association headquarters screwing him over like this?

‘No way.’ He doesn’t know yet. There must have been a misunderstanding. Logically, it doesn’t make sense. He stopped thinking.

There was no time to be doing this. Because of the ‘rule’ of the swamp area. The rule of this area is ‘loneliness’.

The rule of the swamp was simple. If you are alone, your mental strength will be depleted. If you go further, you will see illusions and eventually go crazy. You can only maintain a sound mind if there is a being with ‘thoughts’ next to you.

You must meet someone to avoid being consumed by madness. Jung Yushin quickly walked across the muddy swamp and the sparsely scattered dry land.

The whole world was stained crimson. Moreover, the thick blood-colored fog blocked his vision, making it impossible to see even an inch ahead. It was difficult to get his bearings without a guide.

Jung Yushin gritted his teeth and kept walking. Is this the 11th floor?

Or is it the 12th floor? He doesn’t know anything.

How long has he been walking? He heard someone talking in front of the rotten swamp.

Damn it. He’s alive. As expected, the heavens have not forsaken him. Jung Yushin carefully moved towards the voices chatting.

“Tyr, what should we eat first when we go outside?” “I just want to sleep.” He heard the voices of a man and a woman.

Jung Yushin thought it was a relief and cleared his throat. “Ahem!” “…”

A moment of silence passed. But the conversation continued again. “Tyr, be careful.” “Don’t worry, Celli.” “Excuse me.”

Jung Yushin spoke. The conversation continued again.

“Celli, run away first.” “How can I leave you behind?”

As he got closer, he heard a smacking sound. What are they running away from? And why is the conversation going back and forth without any emotion?

“He…help me.” He heard a woman’s voice without any emotion. Crunching sound. Smack.

Jung Yushin stepped into the place where he heard the conversation, piercing through the fog. The smell of blood wafted strongly. There.

Something naked was smacking its lips with its head stuck down. Human?

No. It was in human form, but it was not human.

Something turned its head. A naked body with pale skin exposed.

Abnormally large eyes. A mouth ripped wide open. Sharp teeth and a tongue that looked like tentacles.

The opponent is a monster. He knew it from reading a book.

Swamp Ghoul. “Damn it!”

Jung Yushin immediately drew his sword. The Swamp Ghoul turned its head and looked at Jung Yushin, then smiled brightly. A tongue like an earthworm was dancing in its wide-open mouth.

“He…help me. Kehehe!!!”