Dungeon & Commander (10)
As the Lyposaurus crossed the dead forest that seemed ready to crumble at the slightest touch, sprouts pushed up from the ground here and there, leaves budded forth, and vines thrust through the soil.
The Socrates team skirted the reviving Schwarzwald and trailed after the Lyposaurus.
The monotonous march dragged on.
Thirst overtook the team members. They had run out of drinking water long ago.
Park Hong-sik fired flares into the sky every hour or two. But at some point, no one held out any hope anymore.
Han So-young, the one with the weakest stamina, collapsed first. Gwon Jun-sang supported the dealer as they walked. When the buffer Park Hong-sik staggered, Choi Muhyun took his side. The veteran Kang Jin-gu endured steadfastly with his well-trained body.
"Sorry."
Han So-young said.
"If you're really sorry, go on a diet for real."
Gwon Jun-sang joked.
"I'll join you."
Park Hong-sik added.
An hour later, Gwon Jun-sang simply hoisted Han So-young onto his back. Choi Muhyun forcibly piggybacked Park Hong-sik, who insisted on walking to the end, to conserve mana for the signal flares.
Kim Jun occasionally glanced back to check on the team's condition. The atmosphere was such that anyone could drop at any moment.
Letting out a sigh, Kim Jun belatedly noticed the Lyposaurus had come to a complete stop—the longest pause since they'd started following it.
If aggressive monsters like a Gelusaurus or Pyrosaurus appeared now, the Socrates team's fate would end right here.
At that moment, Park Hong-sik squeezed out his mana and launched a flare into the air.
As the flare faded, a faint flicker rose from the distant darkness beyond.
Kim Jun rubbed his eyes.
Am I dreaming? No! No way!
Pinching his cheek hard, Kim Jun turned and shouted. His parched voice came out as garbled noise at first, but soon formed proper words.
"There! Over there!"
Kim Jun pointed ahead.
Only then did the team members spot the flame.
Three seconds of silence.
Then all hell broke loose.
Han So-young slid off the back and charged toward the light, screaming at the top of her lungs. Park Hong-sik, Gwon Jun-sang, and Choi Muhyun followed right behind.
Kang Jin-gu paused briefly beside Kim Jun.
"We'll catch up soon."
Kim Jun said. Kang Jin-gu nodded and ran off with a silent cheer.
Turning to the Lyposaurus, Kim Jun bit the back of his hand and extended it forward.
The Lyposaurus approached, licked the bleeding hand, and the wound healed in an instant.
"Thanks. And don't let anyone catch you."
Kim Jun said with sincerity.
The Lyposaurus stared blankly at him, and a single white tear welled up in its eye, dropping with a plop. The round droplet fell onto his hand and soaked into the fading scar. Even the trace vanished completely.
Stunned, Kim Jun watched.
The Lyposaurus turned and vanished into the darkness.
"Kim Jun!"
Snapping back at the team's calls, Kim Jun started running slowly after them.
The flare had been fired not by another team, but by the gate manager. As a carrier, Kim Jun never had to deal directly with the Dungeon Association's strict overseers. Gwon Jun-sang, Han So-young, and Park Hong-sik were enough.
A reconnaissance squad made up solely of raiders—no carriers—caught his eye, suggesting the Dungeon Association had detected the anomaly inside and launched a full investigation.
Passing through the gate and emerging from the dungeon, every member of the Socrates team shed tears. Beyond the iron fence, Kim Jun spotted his mother watching them, fists clenched tightly.
Standing beside her was Kim Ji-hyun.
"Mom."
Kim Jun walked toward his mother.