episode_0247

– Boom!

A short, loud bang echoed through my eardrums.

Fragments of golden energy scattered everywhere in sight.

The force from the tip of the fist to the shoulder is quite strong.

Atra’s new form, which had ridden the force without resistance, was naturally pushed back.

She stared ahead, shaking off her slightly sore wrists.

– Phew…

Lee Ha-yul, the one who pushed Atra away, did not chase after her but stopped in his tracks.

Lee Ha-yool, who was catching his breath while looking at the window, opened the window.

Woohoo! The golden blade flashed with a murderous sound.

Feeling the momentum, Artra hid her inner trembling feelings.

It’s not just the momentum that’s fierce.

The golden blade displayed its wild and powerful power throughout the fight.

If you strike it down like a blunt instrument, the solid ground will collapse with a thud, and if you swing and stab it, it will even cut through Atra’s strong energy.

Such a powerful aura… was very familiar and intimate to Atra.

The same one she always carried in her body… because it was her magic to begin with.

‘… Where on earth do you pick up things like that… ’

Lee Ha-yul originally had an extraordinary talent for imitating other people’s magic and incorporating other people’s techniques into his own.

That’s a creative function, not a sub-technique.

That spear… to be exact, that staff that also performs the function of a spear is said to be a top-tier artifact.

There are two most notable features.

The ability to construct blades using a variety of magic and materials.

The ability to rapidly release the magical power and magic embedded in the crystal ball.

It’s an intuitive and simple feature, but it’s up to the user to make good use of it.

Iharul used that function very well.

“That’s it for today.”

– Phew…

Atra’s muttering spread across the training ground where tension was colliding.

Only then did Lee Ha-yool, who had been maintaining his posture and waiting for an opening to attack, lose his momentum, and the invisible pressure that had filled the training ground began to subside.

Lee Ha-yool released the strength from his shoulders.

His arm dropped, and the tip of the spear that had been pointed at Atra hung down.

Woohoo…

The golden blade, which gave off a refreshing sound as if struck by a musical instrument, melted away.

Atra, who was examining him, opened her mouth.

“I have something to point out… I feel embarrassed to even call it a point.”

Artra, who had been speaking calmly, suddenly realized there was an error in what he said and let out a snicker.

There were no mistakes that could be called intellectual. In the first place, there were no mistakes that Lee Ha-yool made in this match.

What else is disappointing? That is not something that Atra just pours out, but something that needs to be shared and received.

Of course, if we only consider the level of simple fighting, Atra still had the upper hand, but Lee Ha-yool’s talent did not end there.

“I don’t handle magic, so it’s hard to train you, but can you tell me what it feels like to be in a position to deal with it?”

“Yes, please.”

“Okay, then… ”

In this duel, Lee Ha-yul focused a lot on magic.

And Artra had a time to realize once again why she hated dealing with the sorcerer tribe.

The clumsy wizard is easy to deal with. There are empty spaces between the manifestations of magic, so you just have to dig in between and strike.

A skilled and prepared wizard is a difficult opponent to deal with.

Throughout this duel, Lee Ha-yul was a skilled and prepared magician.

Although he had been good at handling magic before, the magical prowess he displayed after returning from training outside was on a different level than before.

All kinds of magic that were deployed at lightning speed in the right places were enough to make Atra feel uncomfortable.

Also, Lee Ha-yul is a warrior who can never let his guard down, so it is difficult to seize the opportunity to win by closing the distance like an average magician.

Even if Atra shows sincerity, she is a difficult type to deal with.

“… Phew.”

“Master?”

But why is that?

Even though I see Lee Ha-yool growing up like this, I still can’t help but feel worried.

Art looked down at Lee Ha-yul, who was approaching him quickly and tilting his head, with an expression that clearly showed his complexity.

It was different from before.

To be exact, I should say that his appearance earlier was different from usual.

The vicious aura that had been scattered everywhere had subsided without a trace, and the sharp eyes had softened and become round.

The eyes that were staring at me while sinking coolly are also bright.

The atmosphere was so innocent and pure that it felt like a mistake.

“Master.”

That was when.

Lee Ha-yool, who had been absentmindedly tilting his head, suddenly smiled.

“Putting aside the fact that it’s a dungeon in the cradle, I’ve become a lot stronger now. You don’t have to worry!”

And what he said was this:

The horse, with its chest wide open and full of confidence, seemed to know what Atra was worried about.

“… I see. Yeah, that’s right… ”

His disciple saw through his worries.

Atra, with a bitter smile, reached out and gently stroked Lee Ha-yul’s cheek.

Lee Ha-yool, who had a bashful smile on his face, also pushed his cheek into Atra’s hand.

‘Wow… It’s complicated.’

Even that appearance is lovely, but it also makes me worry.

Why did Atra force Lee Ha-yul, who had just become a superhuman, into such harsh and burdensome training at the beginning of the semester?

These days, ominous signs are looming beneath the surface.

I don’t think I would feel at ease if the person I was teaching died.

Wasn’t it meant to quickly raise the level so that you could survive well even in such times?

That goal has long since been achieved.

Now, Lee Ha-yul has become a strong person who can be thought of as someone who will survive even if he is dropped into the Demon Realm.

Beyond that, he became a strong person who could even reach out to those in need around him.

Now, Atra has long since surpassed the level of worry she was feeling… but her worries just won’t go away.

‘Is this a joke…?’

It is said that Lee Ha-yul enters the dungeon.

Regardless of the type, location, or level of the water, the mere fact filled Atra’s heart with anxiety.

I found that kind of self-centeredness really absurd.

Now, they are even worried about Lee Ha-yul’s safety within the city.

… My mind thinks so, but my heart can’t help it.

Even now, when Lee Ha-yul insists that there is no need to worry, it is still the same.

In fact, there were also some aspects of Lee Ha-yool’s claim that there was no need to worry that were not credible.

– Zigsi…

It was around the time when I was unraveling such complicated thoughts.

Artra felt the gaze of her body tapping against hers.

What kind of desire is it… a gaze filled with passion.

It was projected intensively onto the toxic area.

“… … ”

Before I knew it, Iha Yul was staring intently at Atra’s chest, which was flickering right in front of my nose.

If you turn your body slightly, the gaze follows you to your chest as if it were drawn to you by a magnet.

He’s so focused that his mouth is slightly open.

The corners of Atra’s mouth twitched involuntarily at the blatant gaze that seemed to have forgotten how to handle eye contact.

“Baby.”

“… It’s not a baby.”

“Hmm.”

Atra shrugged her shoulders at the pointed question.

His chest heaved up and down, and Lee Ha-yool’s gaze also moved up and down.

Artra stared at him intently and spread her arms without saying a word.

Even if it wasn’t between the two, Lee Ha-yool’s eyes sparkled at the unspoken consent that was widely used in the world.

And without a moment’s hesitation, he hugged me tightly.

This is the moment when the training session was just over.

The warm body temperature that had risen due to the rough movement and the sweet scent that wafted filled Atra’s nasal cavity.

I hugged Artora Lee Ha-yul tightly with a sense of satisfaction.

“Ehehe.”

– Sniff sniff

And it was the same with art.

She too moved her body roughly, and her body, heated by body temperature, gave off a strong body odor.

In the meantime.

It was extremely embarrassing and shameful for Lee Ha-yool to dig into her arms, bury his nose in her chest, and sniff her scent.

It was also a pleasant act that gave off a strange sense of betrayal.

‘… I’m worried.’

Artra, who hugged Lee Ha-yul tightly, sighed deeply inwardly.

In fact, that wasn’t the only thing that Atra was worried about.

You don’t enter the dungeon alone.

As part of the mentoring class, he said he would enter with the successor of Taesan.

Coincidentally, all of the successors to the three generations of this family are women.

The successor of Taesan was also invited to dinner by Lee Ha-yool last time, and was treated quite extravagantly…

“… … ”

Are these worries just a waste of time?

Or is this a reasonable concern?

I wasn’t sure about Artra.

* * *

Even if Lee Ji-yeon had immediately accepted the offer to accompany him to the dungeon, he couldn’t enter right away.

Entering a dungeon is not something to be taken lightly.

In addition, the dungeon you enter is a level 2 dungeon, which is a higher level dungeon.

I, too, must enter fully prepared.

Also, since it’s only 1 night and 2 days, we have to coordinate and adjust our schedules.

The dungeon entry date thus decided is the Thursday of the week following the discussed date.

The planned itinerary is 1 night and 2 days.

The plan is to arrive on Thursday morning and return around Friday evening, but… there are always variables that can arise in a schedule.

Even a simple travel schedule can often be disrupted, so how much more so can a dungeon.

We included the weekend to allow for a day or two of delay due to disruptions within the dungeon.

As time passed, the day of admission arrived.

We arrived at the square, the meeting place, leaving behind the worried gazes from the mansion.

I went there first and waited, and soon I heard Lee Ji-yeon’s movements approaching.

Lee Ji-yeon was wearing her private clothes instead of her cadet uniform.

I didn’t come wearing any special equipment.

A moderately thick and long black outfit.

He is wearing gloves that cover his arms, and his shoes are thick, military-style boots.

There is one large bag on the back, even though it has subspace magic on it.

The pouches hanging from the belt like fruits are also products with subspace magic.

Looks like you’re well prepared in many ways.

Compared to her, I am a relatively easygoing person.

Because there is subspace, there is no need to pack your things like that.

Of course, in case the subspace breaks down, I also carry several pouches filled with survival supplies hanging from my waist.

Lee Ji-yeon, who had been walking calmly from afar, furrowed the corners of her eyes when she saw me.

“Oh, I’m late today. Sorry.”

[No, you don’t have to be sorry]

[I just got here and was just unpacking my stuff]

He shook his head at Lee Ji-yeon, whose expression clearly showed that he was sorry for making her wait.

It’s still early enough that I have 20 minutes left until our appointment, and it’s hard to say sorry for being late.

After saying that, Lee Ji-yeon’s expression softened and she suddenly lowered her head, saving my complexion.

“That’s a relief. Did you sleep well last night?”

[Yes, I slept well]

I came back from a deep sleep in my teacher’s arms.

Even now, my body is filled with the Master’s body temperature and scent, so my heart feels warm.

The condition is excellent.

… As I was leaving the mansion, Seo-Yul’s gaze turned towards me and it felt a little painful…

“Did you eat before you came back?”

[Yes, yes, I filled it up a bit]

“Then, it’s earlier than the scheduled time, but should we go right away?”

[yes]

If it were a normal appointment, we would meet up, have a meal, and spend time together, but today’s meeting is for entering the dungeon.

Since we had each finished preparing before leaving the house, we were able to enter right away.

Lee Ji-yeon and I nodded our heads and headed to the dungeon without hesitation.

The dungeons of Shiryam are mainly gathered on the outskirts of the island.

The dungeon we’re heading to this time is located near the very end of the area.

“Cadet Lee Ha-yul, Lee Ji-yeon… Confirmed to enter on the day.”

So, after a while, I arrived nearby and checked with the personnel supervising the dungeon.

The entrance to the dungeon that we had just arrived at.

As always, the entrance to the dungeon was rippling like a whirlpool.

However, it was almost four times larger than the entrance to any dungeon I had ever entered.

It was so big that a five-story commercial building could fit into one box.

‘hmm.’

The swirling winds were also much stronger. If they had physical force, I thought they would tear apart the building they were thrown into.

It wasn’t just a feeling. When I used my power to perceive the space, I could actually feel a huge flow resonating through the space.

“I’ll go in first, so please wait a moment and then come in.”

[Yes, I will follow right in.]

For a moment, I felt the flow of space on my skin.

Finally, Lee Ji-yeon checked the condition of herself and her luggage and stepped forward, pulling up her gloves.

Lee Ji-yeon’s role is vanguard.

Among them, since they specialize in blocking enemy attacks, they are the first to enter the dungeon.

So Lee Ji-yeon stretched her legs toward the whirlpool.

Immediately after, Lee Ji-yeon’s body was caught in the whirlpool and disappeared into it.

All sounds have disappeared. We have entered the dungeon.

I too stood still and after a while I reached out into the vortex.

The strange resonance of the space swept from the crown of my head to the tips of my toes and then disappeared.

Immediately after.

My distant consciousness gradually rose to the surface, and before I knew it, I was feeling a completely different sensation on my skin than before.

Observation was put on hold for a moment.

Instead, I felt a presence.

The sound of Lee Ji-yeon’s breathing, heartbeat, swallowing, rolling her eyes, and her intestines churning as she blocked my path and looked sharply in all directions…

The sound of birds chirping, the sound of river water flowing down and crashing into rocks, the cries of monsters, the sounds of dying…

Rich magical power that is fully absorbed into the skin.

I, who had been perceiving the world with my senses for a while, turned on observation at that point.

The map, which had been completely black, was now filled with blue-tinged vegetation.

It was a dungeon with a name that came to mind, the Garden of Cold Colors.

* * *

[Enter the 2nd level dungeon “Hansaeokdongsan”]

* * *

In the fresh green forest.

A forest densely packed with trees, not only in their leaves but also in their branches and trunks, which have a green hue.

Likewise, a being hidden in the green bushes held its breath.

I deliberately held my breath and even covered my mouth with both hands to prevent a single breath from escaping from my throat.

“Grrr… ”

‘Eek… ‘

Even after doing that, I almost lost my breath. My eyes, which were open narrowly, trembled uncomfortably.

I covered my mouth more firmly with my trembling hands.

There should be no screaming. Not even a small gasp should be heard.

If you give any sign of something specific, you will be eaten by that thing.

Fear spreads throughout the imagined future.

Rather, it was fortunate.

Fear made my body freeze and I couldn’t make a sound.

– Swish… thud!

How long must I have been holding my breath?

The rough breathing that had been echoing around the neighborhood made me turn my head.

– Boom! Boom! Boom!

Soon, the footsteps that were roughly hitting the ground gradually grew further away.

Even in the midst of all this, I continued to hold my breath.

I held my breath for a while after the sound of footsteps disappeared beyond the distance.

I hold my breath to the limit, worried that maybe it’s acting or that I might breathe carelessly and the thing’s footsteps might come back.

“Phuhu, haaa… ”

After a long time, I finally let out the breath I had been holding.

[Got…?]

While I was catching my breath, a voice came into my head.

– Nod nod

[I went]

He took a deep breath and nodded weakly.

– Buss… thud

“Puhaa… ”

The ground beneath the ground stirred, and a head popped out from within.

[Oh, I survived…]

[Sigh… How does that thing keep chasing me…]

[Huh… scary…]

– Thump, thump, thump

The head didn’t end with one.

Hairs popped up one after another, as if playing a game of whack-a-mole.

Then, its limbs grew and it crawled out from under the ground, groaning and pushing itself out.

The bodies of those buried in the ground were revealed.

Two arms and legs.

Hair that grows on the scalp, eyes, nose, ears, and mouth.

Pure white, smooth skin with no outer skin or armor.

At first glance, it looked no different from a human.

But what makes it different from humans is that it is too small to be called a human.

and.

[I guess I’ll have to move again? Those things will be wandering around this area from now on.]

[huh…]

– Gently

The wings that sprouted from its back fluttered weakly, shaking off the dust.

A pair of wings shedding a dull, five-colored light were revealed.