Desperate Deals and Farewells

-18:43:54 Dungeon Floor 7.

Over the course of five hours, the 45 survivors could reach only one conclusion.

First off, eight of the goblins had to stay behind here. That would allow eight more people to head down to the lower floors. Even so, it still meant 19 people would have to sacrifice themselves. But that remained an agonizing dilemma.

Even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Mitchell, who always showed decisive resolve in tough spots, agonized over it endlessly.

Finally, unable to stand it any longer, Yui stepped forward.

"No choice! The weakest ones should stay behind."

Her words darkened the faces of several people. They were the ones who'd always been on the receiving end of help just to make it this far.

Noticing this, Irene tried to soothe her.

"Miss Yui. There's still plenty of time. How about we think on it a bit more?"

On any other day, Yui would've backed off at Irene's words. But not this time.

"Then what? Draw lots? And if all the weaklings get picked, we get wiped out on the next floor?"

"Hey, hey, calm down. You're extra feisty today."

Even Josh, who usually bantered best with Yui, couldn't rein her in.

"This is feisty? Want me to crank it up? Everyone! Put your hand on your heart and think. There've gotta be some who figure going down themselves brings zero benefits!"

Jonathan nodded in agreement. But he stayed back, quietly dipping his head without stepping up.

As emotions flared and Yui ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠geared up for more, Dennis finally spoke.

"Sister Yui. Please stop."

Until now, he'd only watched. His words snuffed out Yui's raging fire like a lie.

The group was stunned. The two had never exchanged words before, let alone clashed like this. No one could figure why Yui froze up before the 70-year-old white-haired priest.

"Tch."

Yui stomped off to the lakeside in a huff and dunked her face in the water. Dennis let out a faint sigh as he watched her cool off. He crossed himself out of habit and murmured lowly.

"Lord."

The group let meaningless time slip by without any real solutions.

Meanwhile, Seol Ara had stayed silent, observing without intervening. Now she slowly nodded to herself.

'Looks like there really aren't any other options.'

Having made up her mind, she shot to her feet and shouted at the ceiling.

"Nyangi! Ferrofero! Come here for a sec?"

The group freaked out at her suddenly summoning the dungeon manager.

"A-Ara! What are you doing?"

"Why call that rotten bastard?!"

Mitchell calmed the backlash.

"Let's watch first."

Seol Ara's impulsive moves always hid layers of careful planning.

"Nyangi~ You'll regret it if you don't come now?"

She kept calling persistently. Finally, Ferrofero raised the white flag and appeared before them.

"Why keep summoning me so annoyingly?!"

"Wanna make a deal?"

"A deal, you say?"

Ferrofero scoffed. He'd already tasted all the new fish in the lake. Nothing left to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tempt him. He puffed up boldly.

"Unless you're offering your life, no deals between us!"

"You sure? Jung-min!"

"Yeah, sis!"

Kim Jung-min approached with Duduk-i, who'd been watching from behind.

Duduk-i looking up at his master caught Ferrofero's eye.

'That one's sneakily cute.'

He hadn't noticed before, but watching through the crystal ball after Kim tamed it—interacting with humans—it had its charms. Especially those fluffy, trembling feathers. He itched to pet them.

As Ferrofero wavered, tempted, Seol Ara and Kim whispered.

"You got that thing?"

"Yeah, kept it safe."

"Feels like now's the time."

"Here."

Kim pulled something from his Inventory and handed it over.

"Nyangi. Here?"

"Kyaaah~! So soft! Feels amazing...!"

Ferrofero, mesmerized, petted Duduk-i's head without thinking. He jolted back in shock.

"A-hem! Why'd you call me?!"

He coughed awkwardly, fidgeting.

Seol Ara eyed him calmly.

"...You lonely?"

"W-W-W-What?! Not lonely at all! M-More importantly, what's that?!"

Ferrofero pointed at the long stick in her hand, deflecting.

Seol Ara waggled it teasingly.

"Heard of churu?"

"What's that?"

Churu. A stick-shaped treat cats go nuts for. A bit chewier than paste, but once opened, cats lose their minds.

When Kim was kidnapped into the dungeon, his bag held a few. He raised three cats and three dogs at home, always packing treats for strays or skinny alley cats. Hence his starter skill Animal Affinity.

Seol Ara peeled the churu slightly. The scent hit Ferrofero's nose.

Drool poured from his mouth—drip, drip, drip.

"W-What's that?!"

"This is churu. Want some?"

Ferrofero nodded frantically.

"Looks like you're deal-ready now."

"W-What do you want?!"

"A way to improve this situation. Or an item."

"Ughhh!"

Ferrofero groaned, clutching his head, then snapped his fingers.

"How's this? My mid-grade ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠collectibles are super rare!"

Seol Ara shook her head at the reward.

"Nah. How do I know it'll help here? Wanna get punished? Deal's off."

"O-Okay! Then a helpful collectible!"

Snap! The reward changed. A satisfied smile bloomed on Seol Ara's face.

"That's more like it. Here, yours."

Ferrofero snatched the churu and spat sharply.

"Humans are too sly! Hmph!"

Then he vanished.

The quest cleared, and a small card-shaped paper appeared in Seol Ara's hand. It read: "Tear this paper to reduce quest difficulty."

Hope flickered across the group's faces.

"Ara! You did it again!"

"Can't count how many times you've saved us in crises. We lack the face to thank you."

"Tear it quick. Gotta see how it drops."

"Yeah. Check the quest changes first before celebrating."

Excitement mixed with caution.

"Okay, tearing it."

Seol Ara ripped it without delay to see the drop. All eyes locked on the new quest window.

* * *

The Ogre King pulled a golden key from his ear and handed it to Han Ji-woo. The Dungeon Prison key.

"Filthy thing."

Osgeelro Haiban grumbled at the key, but his mouth grinned wide. Thanks to Han Ji-woo, he'd escaped too.

"Where do I stick this?"

At Han Ji-woo's question, the Ogre King drawled slowly.

"Thrust into... empty air... twist... door appears. One use... per person... can't reuse on same."

"Lordy. Impatient folks'd croak before hearing that!"

Osgeelro thumped his chest.

"Try it already!"

"Farewells first?"

Han Ji-woo glanced around at the monsters.

Osgeelro wouldn't oblige easily.

"Farewells with these wretched beasts? Bah, damn pests! Live fat and happy forever without starving!"

The dwarf's gruff words hid warmth. Han Ji-woo chuckled at his tsundere ways and bid goodbyes.

"Turkan. Heading out. Keep farming strong without me. Breed livestock hard—no food shortages."

"...Understood, Master. Queeek!"

Turkan's voice choked wetly. Some orcs already teared up. Not long together, but bonds ran deep.

'Orcs are more sentimental than I thought.'

Han Ji-woo, surprised at this side, looked up at the Ogre King.

"Ogre King. Thanks to you, we're safe. Grateful. One favor?"

"Friend's request... hear it."

"If others fall into Dungeon Prison later, don't kill 'em. Take good care."

His command would bind the monsters. Even if unharmed, the death countdown hits zero eventually. But Han Ji-woo hoped they'd spend those final moments well.

The Ogre King nodded. His massive head moved like a cliffside boulder.

"...Got it. Friend... promise."

"Thanks."

Finally, Han Ji-woo surveyed the transformed Orc Village—thanks to him, Osgeelro, and Pao.

Then he jammed the key into thin air and twisted right.

Space warped around the keytip, birthing a massive dimensional door.

"Whoa."

As Han Ji-woo marveled, heading in—a system message popped.

"What?! What bullshit is this?!"

Osgeelro's voice exploded in shock. The message calmly dropped another bomb.

"What?!"

"...Damn."

Osgeelro's shoulders slumped in despair. But Han Ji-woo, beside him, tossed out a curveball.

"Then can you go somewhere that doesn't need conquering the dungeon?"

Han Ji-woo nodded and clapped Osgeelro's shoulder.

"Osgeelro. Come with me."