Downpour (2)
“……Did you really live in the sewer?”
Jang Seo-yeon muttered in a dazed expression. Unfortunately for her, the answer was already decided.
“Yeah, right here.”
Kim Ha-ryeong spoke as if wondering what the big deal was, then fetched a manhole opener from somewhere.
“Where the hell did you even get that?”
Yang Min-cheol asked in astonishment, and Kim Ha-ryeong replied while slotting it into the manhole groove.
“Huh? It was just lying around at the construction site nearby?”
It was a mindset hard to comprehend, but Go Cheon-su could at least follow her logic.
Perfect for dodging the trash mobs.
To protect herself from the Ents, she needed a way. And announcing she'd survived like this built trust far better.
Clunk.
Pulling the wheeled opener made the hook catch in the groove, dragging the manhole cover open effortlessly.
“There. What now?”
Kim Ha-ryeong pulled the opener free, stashed it away, and asked.
Go Cheon-su pondered briefly. Their goal here was to grab her specialized medical tools and meds.
But……
Grrrrr.
A nasty growl echoed from somewhere. Yang Min-cheol and Jang Seo-yeon whipped their heads around with sighs.
“Hyung! That sound……!”
“Go Cheon-su! It’s those bastards!”
Just as expected—they stirred when darkness fell.
Grrrrr.
They were even visible now. Ents began emerging one by one nearby.
“Ah, damn it.”
He hadn’t expected to run into them this soon. Go Cheon-su scanned the surroundings. They could still flee from the Ents.
But repeating the arboretum mistake would be disastrous. If they were already visible like this, he could gauge their numbers.
If the area’s crawling with Ents……!
One path left.
Go Cheon-su bolted to the manhole, grabbed the ladder, and started descending.
“Everyone down!”
Ents ignored underground spaces. This was their only shelter now.
“Hyung! I’m coming!”
“Shit!”
Yang Min-cheol and Jang Seo-yeon followed. Kim Ha-ryeong took the ladder last.
Thud!
Go Cheon-su pulled out his flashlight, shining it on the group as he yelled.
“Kim Ha-ryeong! Can you close the manhole cover?”
It dawned on him now. But sewer manhole covers were overwhelmingly heavy compared to normal ones. Without a levered, wheeled opener, even gripping it was tough.
“Huh?”
He figured a massive Ent wouldn’t squeeze through anyway and was about to drop it, but something unexpected caught his eye at the manhole rim.
“What the hell is that.”
A thick root dangled near the hole, tied in a net-like weave.
Before he could process it, Kim Ha-ryeong descending the ladder pulled a flashlight from her pocket and shone it on the root.
Crunch!
Struck by the blue light, the root thrashed wildly.
Go Cheon-su flinched too, but the extending root didn’t target them. It shot out the manhole hole, dragged the cover over, and slammed it shut.
“Huh……?”
Absurd, but with the cover closed, the underground grew pitch black.
“Hyung! Shine the ladder more!”
“Huh? Oh, right!”
Reaching bottom first, Go Cheon-su lit the way so Yang Min-cheol and Jang Seo-yeon descended safely.
“Whew. Got dark all sudden—scared me.”
Finally down, Jang Seo-yeon glanced up.
“Something moved up there, you see it?”
“Didn’t see. Hyung?”
Go Cheon-su swallowed dryly at Yang Min-cheol’s question. He couldn’t explain it either.
Go Cheon-su swung his flashlight to Kim Ha-ryeong. She’d switched off the blue light and was descending slowly.
“Oof.”
Touching down, she looked up at Go Cheon-su.
“See? I’m useful, right?”
“Yeah, seems so…….”
Go Cheon-su cleared his throat and spoke.
“Got a question.”
“What? Describe any symptoms in detail—I’ve got everything here.”
“No, that thing.”
He pointed up.
“There was a root.”
“Root? Oh.”
Kim Ha-ryeong wiggled her flashlight as she answered.
“That tree monster’s root.”
“What?”
“Shine UV on severed roots, and they think sunlight’s coming—block the hole to stay buried and regrow.”
That’s how it sealed the cover. Go Cheon-su stared blankly, and she tilted her head.
“What? Problem?”
“Nah.”
Go Cheon-su grinned with delight.
“You’re a total gem.”
Click.
Kim Ha-ryeong tugged a cord on the wall, and lights hanging there flickered on, filling the dim space with soft glow.
“You…… set all this up yourself?”
Yang Min-cheol marveled, and she shrugged nonchalantly.
“Store nearby had everything. Just dragged ’em here and installed.”
“……Still impressive.”
Jang Seo-yeon sighed, looking around.
“And you’ve made it cozy.”
A thin mattress with blankets lay on the higher ledge, plus a small folding desk. Proof she’d truly lived here.
“Thanks—feels like a housewarming. Oh, first one ever.”
Her rambling showed genuine joy. Go Cheon-su scanned further.
Experiment gear…….
Flasks and unknown vials lined one corner. Nearby, a notepad scribbled Ent root notes.
Figured it out through trials?
He glanced at the ceiling. Exploiting severed Ent roots like that required real initiative.
“Ha-ryeong, how’d you snag those roots anyway.”
Go Cheon-su asked, and she looked sheepish.
“Oh, that. Plenty lying around outside—picked a few to test. Looked like soldiers fought Ents and left scraps.”
“Huh.”
“Yeah. Didn’t cut ’em myself, so kinda embarrassing.”
Nothing to be embarrassed about. Most wouldn’t touch Ent roots once identified.
“And they’re lighter than expected. Hollow inside or something.”
“No need for more details.”
Go Cheon-su calmed her, counting blankets. No leaving now—they’d crash here and move tomorrow.
“Min-cheol, lie on that mattress.”
“Huh?”
No asking permission. Yang Min-cheol looked awkward, glancing at Kim Ha-ryeong.
“Shouldn’t ask first? And I’m fine now……”
“Like hell.”
Too soon recovered. Rest when possible. Go Cheon-su eyed Kim Ha-ryeong for backup.
“Yeah, it’s fine. Patients get the best spot—standard.”
She urged him too.
“……Really okay to crash here?”
He could’ve refused again, but didn’t. Fatigue must’ve won.
“Yeah. Rest up.”
“Ah, hyung……!”
Go Cheon-su grabbed the flustered Yang Min-cheol, forcing him onto the mattress. He grabbed a blanket from the pile.
“Everyone else, find spots and rest.”
Last order of the day. Go Cheon-su spread his blanket and lay down.
Creepy underground vibe aside, the spacious height felt airy like a tall-ceilinged home. No constant sewer use—dry walls. Decent air suggested an outside vent.
What a day.
Hunted for Yang Min-cheol, scrapped with giants. Saved him, met Kim Ha-ryeong en route. Thought nightmare over—but life never easy. Faced Ents again.
“Brothers.”
But easy fixes were rare. Eyes drooping, Go Cheon-su addressed viewers.
“If danger hits while I sleep, wake me. Probably won’t, but.”
Prep for anything.
Teasing words, but he trusted these viewers. They wouldn’t ditch unless hopeless.
“Yeah, brothers. Visit my dreams.”
Exhausted since the arboretum. Go Cheon-su drifted off.
『Go Cheon-su!』
A voice from somewhere.
『Hey, Go Cheon-su! Wake up!』
Shouts lingered in his ear. Distorted woman’s voice.
『Wake up, you idiot! Gonna burn all your saved Zen, fuck!』
Saved Zen……?
Go Cheon-su cracked his eyes, face blank. Zen? No clue.
Dreaming?
Half-asleep, he sat up. Group slept nearby.
Ting!
Then—a small, chilling ring hit his ears.
Ting!
“What.”
Go Cheon-su followed the sound, looking up.
Ting!
Above. Snapping alert, he flashed his light at the ceiling.
“No way, the Ents……!”
Ting!
Relief? Hardly.
“Huh……?”
The netted Ent root on the ceiling thrashed a metal beam right overhead.
Noticing chat now, Go Cheon-su furrowed his brow.
“Brothers, what? You didn’t wake me!”
Obviously Han Do-choe fumed at his claim.
Speaker? Go Cheon-su recalled the dream-voice.
“Ahh. No way. That was you, brother?”
Thought hallucination. No idea Han Do-choe shoved voice direct into his ear.
“How’d you do it?”
Never woken like this before.
“Ah, damn. Stealth patch?”
Updates hit sneaky—pain for players.
“No, fuck—not the point now.”
Go Cheon-su refocused. Chat tricks weren’t new. Learned sponsorships late too.
This helped.
“Kim Ha-ryeong! Hey, Ha-ryeong!”
He rushed over, shaking her shoulder.