episode_0256

3 days later, evening.

The hero party stood in a corner of the central square.

They had completed all the preparations to enter the labyrinth. All that was left was the barbarian.

“Why is that guy so late?”

Sebastian muttered in a irritable voice.

Luther soothed him.

“Didn’t you say the barbarian was staying in the southern district? It might take a while to get here.”

Gibson chimed in.

“The priest is right. Haha, I know the weather is cold, but Sebastian needs to develop some patience.”

Sebastian glared at Gibson.

Gibson only shrugged, not avoiding his gaze.

A cold wind blew between the two men facing each other.

Recently, the relationship between Sebastian and Gibson had been poor.

Because Gibson had embezzled party funds.

It wasn’t a large amount, but Sebastian’s pride was hurt. Gibson’s actions were no different from disregarding the person managing the funds.

On the other hand, Gibson was unhappy with Sebastian for distributing less funds to him.

Cyan and Luther found it difficult to take either side.

They understood Sebastian’s position as the one managing the funds, and they could also understand Gibson’s dissatisfaction with receiving less money.

Still, Gibson’s mistake was bigger. In any case, it was the party’s shared funds.

Luther and Cyan each stepped in to mediate.

“Gibson, didn’t we agree to distribute the funds equally from now on? Put your mind at ease.”

“Sebastian, Gibson made a mistake, but you also have things to reflect on.”

“…”

Gibson and Sebastian, who had been glaring at each other, silently turned their heads.

Gibson and Sebastian’s eyes hadn’t changed much. Eyes filled with annoyance and anger. It seemed that it would take a little more time for the two to reconcile.

“Hahaha!!! I’m here!”

The barbarian shouted from afar and ran over.

The barbarian ran past the hero party and stood next to Cyan.

Cyan glanced at Scar, then turned and headed for the labyrinth.

“Scar is here. Let’s go.”

Scar walked shoulder to shoulder with Cyan.

Cyan, unable to bear it, gently pushed Scar’s shoulder away.

“S, Scar, isn’t this too close?”

“So you don’t like it? Aren’t we both front-liners?!”

Scar grinned and stuck close to Cyan again.

Cyan was in a complicated state of mind that was difficult to describe.

The massage from a few days ago came to mind, making her feel embarrassed.

Seeing Scar approaching with an indifferent expression, she also felt a sense of self-disgust, wondering if she lacked appeal as a woman.

Cyan glanced sideways at Scar walking next to her. A smiling face, seemingly unaware of her feelings.

‘Stop it.’

She looked ahead. She had to concentrate. The mission entrusted to her by the Crown Prince was no joke.

On the way to the labyrinth.

There weren’t many explorers on the street. Rumors had already spread throughout the Explorer Headquarters that the monsters were getting stronger.

According to the testimonies of explorers who had returned from the labyrinth, it was true.

It was only natural that those who were not daring explorers would avoid it.

Cyan and her party members walked down the street and stood on the labyrinth magic circle.

Flash!!!

The hero party entered the labyrinth on the magic circle.

* * *

One day, two days, three days, four days.

The hero party quickly broke through the labyrinth and arrived at the 6th floor forest area.

This time, they were lucky enough to fall near a transfer stone.

For several days, the party members had not had much conversation while moving through the labyrinth.

Because there were many times when each other’s feelings were hurt.

Other than that, there were no particular difficulties.

Gibson, who had reached the forest area, unfolded the map.

“Hmm.”

Gibson frowned as he carefully read the map.

The forest area was more complex than he thought. There were too many plants and trees, making it difficult to grasp the terrain at once.

This meant that there were no landmarks to use as signposts.

It wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t impossible either. Spending his whole life wandering through the forest after eating was his lifelong job.

At that time.

The barbarian approached.

“What’s wrong?!”

Gibson raised his head and rubbed his eyes.

“Haha. It’s nothing. I guess my eyes are getting dim with age.”

Scar laughed loudly.

“Hahaha!!! Aren’t you only in your 40s? You should still be in your prime?!”

“Hehehe. That’s right.”

Gibson replied with a smile, but the hand holding the map was trembling slightly.

For a moment, Jung Yushin’s eyes gleamed coldly.

‘Confirm.’

He had drunk so much alcohol that even though it had been four days since they entered the labyrinth, the smell of alcohol was still coming from Gibson’s mouth.

Was that all?

He also noticed that Gibson’s hands were痉挛.

One of the withdrawal symptoms often seen in severe alcoholics.

Shaking of the body.

Sebastian clicked his tongue.

“Tsk. You’re taking a long time to look at the map. If your eyes are getting dim, why don’t you cut down on the drinking and gambling?”

A vein popped out on Gibson’s forehead. Sebastian’s tone was annoying him today.

“Magician, why don’t you be moderate? It’s not that easy to find your way in such a dense forest.”

Gibson’s voice naturally became stiff. Sebastian turned his head and snorted.

Jung Yushin closed his mouth and stepped back in the chilling atmosphere.

‘What’s up?’

He wondered why they hadn’t said a word while exploring the labyrinth.

Had there been a conflict between them without him knowing?

At that time.

“Sebastian, Gibson.”

Cyan’s cool voice echoed through the forest. The two of them flinched and looked at Cyan.

“Are you going to be at each other’s throats even after coming all the way here?”

Cyan’s voice was stern.

“S, sorry.”

Sebastian quickly lowered his head and apologized like a rat.

Gibson also lowered his head, but said nothing else.

“If you have something built up, you should resolve it outside the labyrinth. What are you going to do if you clash like this inside? Are you going to act like this even when you go deeper into the labyrinth? Do you think you’ll have the leisure to talk comfortably there?”

“…”

The party members were silent.

“Think about why you all came here.”

“Sorry.”

“Yes.”

“I understand!”

Sebastian answered first to Cyan’s rebuke, followed by Gibson.

Finally, the barbarian smiled brightly and shouted loudly.

Cyan looked at Scar and hesitated to say something.

In fact.

‘I’m the same way.’

She had threatened the party, but she was in a similar situation.

The lower they went in the labyrinth, the stronger Scar’s sweat smell became.

She was walking so close to her that she couldn’t avoid it.

She tried to breathe through her mouth, but when she came to her senses, she found herself taking in Scar’s scent.

She should have been thinking about the red orb.

It was embarrassing that her mind was filled with Scar’s scent.

“Let’s go. If something like this happens again, we’re stopping the labyrinth exploration.”

At Cyan’s threat, the party members finally came to their senses and set out on their way.

After walking through the forest for about 3 hours, Gibson looked at Cyan.

“Hero, there should be a ruined watchtower around here.”

“Is the red orb there?”

“Yes.”

“I understand.”

The party members slowly searched the forest.

Gibson opened his mouth.

“I found it.”

Beyond the vine-covered view, a ruined watchtower could be seen.

The hero party approached the watchtower and opened the door.

Creak.

The hinges of the rotted wooden door screamed.

The party members narrowed their eyes and looked inside the watchtower.

They could see it.

In the middle of the dark watchtower.

A red orb was shining on top of a strange tentacle-like pedestal.

Luther stepped forward.

“Be careful! I can feel an ominous energy from that orb!”

Sebastian approached a little closer without concern and observed the red orb.

“This is… a gateway to another world?”

Luther grabbed Sebastian’s shoulder.

“Sebastian, you shouldn’t look at it for too long. Your mind can be contaminated!”

“Yes.”

Sebastian answered, but his gaze did not leave the red orb.

On the other hand.

Jung Yushin frowned. He had no good memories of it.

He was relieved that worm-like things weren’t coming out of his eyes like last time.

Was it because of the grace of Lux Aeterna?

Or was it because he had closed the windows of his heart after a long meditation?

Maybe it was both.

Jung Yushin clicked his tongue inwardly as he watched Sebastian’s eyes gradually become hazy.

‘That bastard is being annoying.’

“Don’t bring the torch too close! You’ll be dragged into the gateway to another world!”

Jung Yushin shouted in Sebastian’s ear.

The surprised Sebastian hurriedly stepped back.

“Hu, heeok!!! Why are you suddenly yelling? We know that too!”

Cyan suddenly reached out and grabbed the red orb.

“Hero?!”

Luther was horrified.

“Quiet.”

Cyan replied briefly and closed her eyes.

Moment.

Woooooong!!!

Lux Aeterna’s divine power poured out of Cyan’s body.

Psssss.

In the vast radiance, the red orb lost its color and crumbled into ash.

Cyan shook her hand to dust off the ashes and turned around.

“Let’s rest here for a bit.”

Cyan couldn’t finish her sentence.

At that moment.

“Woof woof!!!”

“Ugh, ugh!!!”

“Kiiiiiii!!!”

The sounds of monsters were heard from outside the watchtower.

Cyan left the watchtower first, followed by Scar.

Outside, dozens of monsters were surrounding the watchtower.

Cyan smiled wryly and drew her sword.

“I heard the number of explorers has decreased, but I never thought there would be such side effects.”

Sebastian stepped forward.

“Hero, leave it to me.”

“No. We’ll fight together this time. I’m sorry for putting too much burden on you.”

“Hero!”

Sebastian looked up at Cyan with an moved expression.

0.

That pure number was so beautiful.

“Prepare for battle. Scar is next to me…!”

Cyan turned her head to look for Scar.

She was just next to her, where did she go?

Sebastian had a dumbfounded expression on his face.

“N…no, that crazy bastard!!!”

“Khaaaaaaaa!!! Battle calls to me!!!”

The barbarian was screaming and running into the enemy lines.

“Haa. Sebastian, Luther, Gibson. I’ll go first.”

“Yes.”

Cyan ran after the barbarian.

Luther immediately chanted divine magic.

[Holy Strength]

[Holy Protection]

[High Intelligence]

[Slow Heal]

In an instant, blessing magic was released and strengthened the party.

Gibson took the horn bow off his back and notched an arrow.

Creak.

Thwack.

Fwoooosh!!!

The arrow left the bowstring like a ray of light and lodged in the head of a mushroom man. A perfectly aimed strike.

The speed of shooting arrows was also fast.

No sooner had the dead mushroom man fallen backwards than several monsters were shot and fell.

“Uhhahahahaha!!!”

The barbarian was swinging his one-edged axe madly among the monsters.

Crack crack crack!!!

He split the mushroom man in front of him in half.

He kicked away a dog that was running at him.

The axe he wielded seemed intent on splitting anything it touched in half.

Cyan stuck to the barbarian’s back.

This was a fight she should have led, but Scar had rushed in first.

She didn’t feel bad.

Rather, it was strange. She had never fought behind someone’s back before.

Cyan wielded her longsword and intercepted all attacks coming from outside Scar’s field of vision.

Scar’s bold axe work was followed and assisted by Cyan’s sword. The two people’s skills perfectly blended attack and defense.

Sebastian, who was chanting magic in the distance, frowned.

Cyan was mainly matching the pace, but even he, who didn’t know much about martial arts, could see that the two were a good match.

‘I don’t like the look of this.’

Still, one consolation was the number 0 floating above Cyan’s head.

Cyan is a hero. He was certain that she was not the kind of woman to fall for such a savage.

[Explosion]

Buh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh!!!

Dozens of monsters exploded from Sebastian’s magic.

“Hmm?”

It was time for Luther’s barrier to come up.

Sebastian turned his head and looked at Luther.

Luther’s eyes looked blank.

“Priest? What’s wrong?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. I, I was a little flustered because there seem to be too many monsters.”

Luther stammered and barely answered, but his mind was still confused.

Something was strange.

‘I definitely cast blessing magic…?’

There was not much change in the barbarian’s movements.

It was as if he hadn’t received the blessing magic properly.

Luther’s eyes narrowed for a moment as he pondered.

‘I knew it.’

His guess was correct.

That barbarian was clearly hiding an sinister mark.

But.

Luther didn’t realize.

That if you look into the abyss, the abyss will also gaze at the observer.

Even while wildly swinging his axe, Jung Yushin.

He did not miss a single move of Luther and Gibson with his cold gaze and piled them up in his head.

‘He’s a priest with a good sense. That’s why the quick-witted guy is a problem. Tsk.’